NCJ Number
176126
Date Published
1997
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This document reports findings from a study of offenders who were drug misusers.
Abstract
Offenders in Leicester self-reported patterns of drug-taking prior to conviction and were interviewed 1 year later to assess how far they had reduced their drug-taking. There was little change in drug use both for those sentenced to imprisonment and those given non-custodial penalties. Seventeen percent of the offenders were receiving treatment for drug misuse when convicted. Of those not continually behind bars over the next year, 23 percent were receiving treatment. The offenders' experience of treatment was generally limited; only a small minority took part in a structured program. This also applied to those treated in the follow-up period. During the follow-up year about half of the offenders were reconvicted. No clear view was reached on the question of how far the criminality of these offenders was fueled by their drug taking, except to note there was often some association between drug taking and wider criminal activity. Figures