NCJ Number
52831
Journal
Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 293-315
Date Published
1978
Length
23 pages
Annotation
ARREST AND SELF-REPORTED DATA WERE EVALUATED FOR A SAMPLE OF 690 ADMISSIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL ADDICT PROGRAM TO CLARIFY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRUG ADDICTION AND CRIME.
Abstract
THE ADDICTS WERE INTERVIEWED TO OBTAIN QUANTITATIVE DATA ON NARCOTIC USE, EMPLOYMENT, AND ILLICIT BEHAVIOR DURING THE PERIOD FROM 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO FIRST NARCOTIC USE TO THE TIME OF THE INTERVIEW. ARREST DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM STATE RECORDS FOR THE SAME PERIOD. THE ARREST DATA AND SELF-REPORTED CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS WERE THEN EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE FREQUENCY OF DRUG USE DURING ADDICTION CAREERS (FIRST DAILY NARCOTIC USE TO LAST DAILY USE). DATA COMPARISONS INDICATED THAT 35 PERCENT OF THE ADDICTION CAREER NONINCARCERATED TIME INVOLVED LESS-THAN-DAILY OR NO NARCOTIC USE. DURING THESE PERIODS, ARREST RATES FOR PROPERTY CRIME AND SELF-REPORTED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WERE SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN FOR PERIODS OF DAILY USE. AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THESE FINDINGS IS THAT THEY ARGUE AGAINST THE OFTEN EXPRESSED VIEW THAT CRIMINALITY CONTINUES AS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR FOLLOWING THE CESSATION OF ADDICTION. WHILE THIS SEEMS TO BE TRUE TO SOME EXTENT, THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT AT LEAST THE AMOUNT OF CRIMINALITY TENDS TO BE SHARPLY REDUCED FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT THIS APPROACH TO EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME AND NARCOTIC ADDICTIONS AVOIDS THE USUAL METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN PREADDICTION AND POSTADDICTION AND PRETREATMENT AND POSTTREATMENT STUDIES. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)