NCJ Number
112543
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1988) Pages: 467-479
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The impact of employment on addict criminality is examined with data from interviews with 544 daily heroin users in five American cities.
Abstract
Addict criminality is examined across employment levels, occupational categories and crime types. The hypothesis that increased employment level and occupational status should inhibit criminal involvement vis-a-vis increased legitimate income is only partially supported. These findings further suggest that both drug use and criminal behavior are manifestations of a broader social involvement in the subculture of drug use. Likewise, employment represents more than simply a source of income, but rather constitutes a dynamic social feature of the subculture which may impact on criminality in various ways. (Author abstract)