POLICING PUBLIC INEBRIATES IN DECRIMINALIZED CITIES A SUMMARY OF METHODS AND FINDINGS

• NCJ Number: 58931
• Journal: Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 607-627
• Author(s): D E AARONSON; C T DIENES; M C MUSHENO
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-NI-99-0055
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Federal Legal Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE EXTENT OF AND METHODS FOR POLICE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC INEBRIATES TO DESIGNATED HEALTH FACILITIES IN CITIES IN WHICH PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS HAS BEEN DECRIMINALIZED WERE STUDIED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Abstract

A TIME SERIES METHODOLOGY WAS USED TO COMPARE POLICE ARRESTS OF INEBRIATES BEFORE DECRIMINALIZATION WITH POLICE DELIVERIES OF THESE PERSONS TO DETOXIFICATION CENTERS AFTER DECRIMINALIZATION. TWO DECRIMINALIZED CITIES WERE COMPARED WITH TWO CITIES IN WHICH PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IS STILL A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. RESULTS SHOWED THAT DECRIMINALIZATION PRODUCED A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC INEBRIATES FORMALLY HANDLED BY THE POLICE, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF INEBRIATES HAD NOT CHANGED. THOSE HANDLED TENDED INCREASINGLY TO BE SKID ROW INEBRIATES. DECRIMINALIZATION THEREFORE TENDED TO INTRODUCE MANY DISINCENTIVES TO POLICE PICKUP AND DELIVERY OF INEBRIATES TO DETOXIFICATION CENTERS. AMONG DISINCENTIVES WERE POLICE AGENCIES' LOW PRIORITY TO PUBLIC DRUNKENESS, OFFICERS' ATTITUDES THAT THEIR ROLE WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT RATHER THAN THERAPEUTIC, NEGATIVE POLICE PEER ATTITUDES TOWARD THE THERAPEUTIC ROLE, AND NEGATIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT DETOXIFICATION CENTERS. RESULTS ALSO INDICATED THAT PUBLIC POLICY GOALS OF HUMANE TREATMENT OF INEBRIATES CONFLICT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT GOALS OF MAINTENANCE OF ORDER AND THE LIKE. CONFLICT ALSO EXISTS BETWEEN SUCH DECRIMINALIZATION GOALS AS PROVIDING EMERGENCY SERVICES AND REINTEGRATION OF PUBLIC INEBRIATES INTO THE COMMUNITY. THESE CONFLICTS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND USED TO SET PRIORITIES AND SPECIFY WORKABLE POLICY DIRECTIVES FOR POLICE AGENCIES. ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR BOTH POLICE AND CIVILIAN PICKUP OF PUBLIC INEBRIATES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. AMONG ALTERNATIVES ARE SPECIALIZED TRANSPORT VEHICLES FOR POLICE, CIVILIAN VAN PICKUP SYSTEMS, TAXICABS, AND EMPHASIS ON PRIVATE AGENCY REFERRALS. FOOTNOTES WHICH INCLUDE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)