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Trends in the Commission of Crime Among Narcotic Addicts Over Successive Periods of Addiction and Nonaddiction

NCJ Number
102159
Author(s)
D N Nurco; J W Shaffer; J C Ball; T W Kinlock
Date Published
1983
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Between July 1973 and January 1978, 354 male narcotic (principally heroin) addicts living in the Baltimore metropolitan area were interviewed to trace their criminal activities over successive periods of addiction and nonaddiction.
Abstract
Subjects were from a stratified random sample of 4,069 known narcotic users arrested or identified by police between 1952 and 1971. The sample was unselected for criminality but stratified by race and year of police contact. To be included in the study, subjects must have used narcotics on at least 4 days a week for at least 1 month while in the community. Subjects described their narcotic addiction, abstinence, and incarceration periods, with criteria for successive addiction periods being the same as that for inclusion in the study. Subjects' criminal activities were categorized and traced over time using five, standardized, crime-days-per-year-at-risk measures in the areas of theft, violence, drug dealing, con games, and other crimes. A sixth composite measure was also used. Subjects greatly differed in the level, type, and trend of criminal activity, but these differences tended to cancel when the data were averaged for the group as a whole. Criminal activity diminished over successive nonaddiction periods and increased irregularly over successive addiction periods. Future research directions are suggested. 2 tables and 11 references.

Grant Number(s)
82-IJ-CX-0031
Sponsoring Agency
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Address

999 N. Capitol St. NE, Washington, DC 20531, United States

US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
Address

810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531, United States

Corporate Author
Social Research Ctr
Address

1229 West Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217, United States

Sale Source
National Institute of Justice/
Address

Box 6000, Dept F, Rockville, MD 20849, United States

NCJRS Photocopy Services
Address

Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000, United States

Publication Type
Report (Study/Research)
Language
English
Country
United States of America