NCJ Number
55928
Journal
Kriminalistik Volume: 32 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 409-414
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS REFUSING TO PAY FOR FOOD AND DRINK AFTER HEAVY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ARE ANALYZED FROM 306 CASES.
Abstract
THE OFFENSE OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY IN THE EVENING HOURS WITHOUT SEASONAL VARIATION AT RESTAURANTS IN ENTERTAINMENT AREAS OF LARGE CITIES. CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF PERSONAL DATA OF 306 OFFENDERS SHOWS THAT THEY ARE PREVALENTLY MALES (96.1 PERCENT) BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21 AND 40 EMPLOYED IN BLUE COLLAR JOBS (62 PERCENT), IN RESTAURANT WORK (7 PERCENT), OR UNEMPLOYED (6 PERCENT), AND FREQUENTLY WITHOUT ANY RESIDENCE (33 PERCENT). THE NUMBER OF UNREPORTED OFFENSES IS SMALLER THAN FOR CRIMES SUCH AS THEFT, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE OFFENDERS ARE INCAPABLE OF LEAVING THE SCENE; ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME STATISTICAL DISTORTION RESULTS FROM CLASSIFYING OTHER CRIMES (E.G., PROPERTY DAMAGE) WITH NONPAYMENT. DESPITE THE FACT THAT SUCH OFFENDERS HAVE A VERY HIGH BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL (AVERAGING 2.2 PRO MILLE), OTHER FACTORS, I.E., HIGH ALCOHOL TOLERANCE FROM FREQUENT DRINKING AND LACK OF SOCIAL COMMITMENTS, ARE PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OFFENDERS' CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE HIGH RATE OF REPETITION AND THE PROGRESSIVELY HIGHER BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS FOR SUCCESSIVE OFFENSES SUPPORT THIS VIEW. OFFENDERS OF THIS TYPE ALSO HAVE PREVIOUS CRIMINAL RECORDS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ANY OTHER KIND OF OFFENDER. NO DEFINITE MOTIVATION FOR THE OFFENDER'S BEHAVIOR CAN BE DETERMINED FROM AVAILABLE MATERIAL. TABLES, ILLUSTRATIONS, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN (KMD)