NCJ Number
140120
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 40-52
Date Published
1991
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Although extensive research has examined relationships between the use of alcohol and/or drugs and the commission of crime, debate continues over the causal nature of these linkages.
Abstract
A recent National Institute of Justice Drug Use Forecasting Report focusing on 21 cities found that more than one-half of male arrestees sampled during the fourth quarter of 1988 tested positive for some drug. For those charged with violent or income-generating crimes, almost half tested positive. The 1983 Survey of Local Jails was selected for the current study to assess preincarceration patterns of alcohol and drug use by jail inmates. A sample of jail inmates was selected from over 3,600 institutions housing approximately 223,600 inmates. In constructing a profile of alcohol and drug use patterns, the study examined prior alcohol and drug use, prior criminal history, information on current offense(s), and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. In all offense categories, more offenders indicated they were under the influence of alcohol than under the influence of drugs. Almost 25 percent of individuals arrested for violent offenses and 50 percent of those arrested for public order offenses reported drug use. Additionally, 20.3 percent of property offenders were intoxicated at the time of their offense. In contrast, only 13.1 percent of those arrested for drug offenses were under the influence of alcohol. Offenders who were under the influence of drugs were more likely to commit drug or drug- related crimes. The findings suggest important linkages of two behavior patterns: linkage between drug and/or alcohol use and criminality; and linkage between criminality and incarceration, specifically in jails. The authors suggest that jails need to develop alcohol and drug screening programs for inmates and to implement urine testing of inmates. Supplemental information on the 1983 Survey of Inmates of Local Jails is appended. 19 references and 5 tables