Impact of Decriminalization on the Intake Process for Public Inebriates: Final Report

• NCJ Number: 57789
• Author(s): D E AARONSON; C T DIENES; M C MUSHENO
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 419 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-NI-99-0055
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY DESCRIBES AND ASSESSES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE POLICE AS THE MAIN AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC INEBRIATES TO DESIGNATED HEALTH FACILITIES IN REPRESENTATIVE U.S. CITIES.

Abstract

THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CRIMINAL AND THERAPEUTIC INTAKE PROCESSES INCLUDES DATA FROM ST. LOUIS, MINNEAPOLIS, AND WASHINGTON, D.C.. THREE RESEARCH MODELS ARE USED FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES: IMPACT, DECISIONMAKING-POLICE DISCRETION, AND PRESCRIPTIVE. IN ADDITION, ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY MECHANISMS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACTUAL LINKAGE OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE MAXIMUM USE OF TREATMENT FACILITIES IN METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE EXPLORED. STUDY RESULTS ARE INTENDED TO AID PUBLIC POLICYMAKERS IN UNDERSTANDING BOTH THE POTENTIAL AND THE LIMITATIONS OF THE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO PUBLIC INTOXICATION AND TO OTHER TYPES OF SOCIALLY DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AS COMPARED WITH THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH OF THE CRIMINAL LAW. ALSO, THE RESULTS SHOULD IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE AND PROCESS OF POLICE DECISIONMAKING AND DISCRETION. AMONG THE STUDY'S FINDINGS IS THAT A CLEAR FORMULATION OF THE GOALS AND PRIORITIES IN THE PICKUP AND DELIVERY OF PUBLIC INEBRIATES IS A PREREQUISITE TO FASHIONING A PICKUP AND DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT WILL BE FULLY RESPONSIVE TO THOSE GOALS. WHETHER TREATMENT RESULTS IN ANY OVERALL COSTS SAVINGS DEPENDS ON THE COST OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE SUBSTITUTED FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESSING AND ON THE RESULTS OF THOSE SERVICES. DATA TABLES AND GRAPHS, FIGURES, AND FOOTNOTES WITH REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.