IMPACT OF DECRIMINALIZATION ON THE INTAKE PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INEBRIATES - THIRD PROJECT REPORT, MARCH 24, 1976

• NCJ Number: 36030
• Author(s): D E AARONSON; C T DIENES; M C MUSHEND
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 288 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-NI-99-0055
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF POLICE ATTITUDES IN FIVE CITIES ON THE HANDLING OF PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS OFFENSES AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE ATTITUDES AND INTAKE FOR PUBLIC INEBRIATES (CRIMINAL VERSUS THERPEUTIC).

Abstract

QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY RESULTS ARE PRESENTED COMPARING THE ATTITUDINAL FINDINGS BETWEEN THE 'CRIMINAL' 'HOUSTON, TEXAS AND RICHMOND, VIRGINIA) AND 'DECRIMINALIZED' (DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI) JURISDICTIONS. FIVE CITY PAPERS PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE JURISDICTIONS AND COMPARE THE ATTITUDES OF OFFICERS IN THE TARGET CITY WITH THOSE OF OFFICERS IN EACH OF THE OTHER CITIES, AS WELL AS INTRAJURISDICTIONAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POLICE DISTRICTS WITHIN EACH CITY. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDE AND THE OFFICER'S SUBJECT REPORT OF HIS BEHAVIOR IS ALSO ANALYZED. IN ADDITION, A PRESCRIPTIVE MODEL IS PRESENTED WHICH PROBES THE RELATIONSHIP OF POLICY GOALS AND TECHNIQUES OF ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT. THE TENTATIVE MODEL IS PREMISED ON FOUR PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS: THE GOALS THAT A JURISDICTION MAY WISH TO ACHIEVE; THE CONFLICT AND COMPATIBILITY OF THESE GOALS; THE DELIVERY MECHANISMS AVAILABLE TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS; AND TECHNIQUES OF ADMINISTRATION WHEREBY THE DELIVERY MECHANISMS ARE UTILIZED TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS. POSSIBLE SITES FOR STUDY IN REGARDS TO THE PRESCRIPTIVE MODEL (ALL JURISDICTIONS WHICH HAVE MADE INNOVATIVE ATTEMPTS TO HANDLE THE INTAKE OF PUBLIC INEBRIATES) ARE IDENTIFIED.