ALCOHOL AND CRIME (FROM ALCOHOLISM - NEW KNOWLEDGE AND NEW RESPONSES, 1977, BY GRIFFIN EDWARDS AND MARCUS GRANT)

• NCJ Number: 56972
• Author(s): D N HANCOCK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

A STUDY DONE IN ENGLAND INDICATES THAT MORE CONTACTS BETWEEN THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM AND THE PENAL SYSTEM ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFULLY TREAT ALCOHOLIC OFFENDERS.

Abstract

AS THE LAW EXISTS NOW, THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN SOCIETY'S NORMAL RESPONSE TO CRIME AS A DANGER AND THE RESPONSE TO ALCOHOLISM AS A CONDITION REQUIRING TEATMENT. DATA INDICATE THAT THERE ARE 100,000 CONVICTIONS FOR DRUNKENNESS IN ENGLAND AND WALES ANNUALLY, LEADING TO 3,000 PRISON SENTENCES A YEAR. HALF SHOW EVIDENCE OF CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE ON ALCOHOL. RESEARCH FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THERE IS AN 86 PERCENT LIKELIHOOD THAT A PERSON WHO HAS HAD SIX OR MORE ARRESTS FOR DRUNKENNESS IS CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT ON ALCOHOL. THE LAW IS INCONSISTENT IN THIS AREA, BUT GENERALLY AGREES THAT DRUNKENNESS IS NO DEFENSE TO LIABILITY IN CRIMINAL LAW. AS REGARDS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE ALCOHOLIC OFFENDER, THERE IS OFTEN A CONFLICT PRESENT BETWEEN PUNISHMENT AND TREATMENT ON THE PART OF THE PENAL SYSTEM. THE APPROACH CONTAINS ELEMENTS OF BOTH TREATMENT AND PUNISHMENT, WHICH MAKE IT AMBIGUOUS AND CAUSE CONFUSION TO THE OFFENDER. HE IS NEITHER GIVEN CLEAR RESOURCES FOR TREATMENT NOR TOLD HE IS BEING PUNISHED. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE MESSAGE BE CLEAR: THAT THE PUNISHMENT NECESSARY AND THE TREATMENT REQUIRED BE KEPT SEPARATE AND THAT MEDICAL EXPERTS AND LEGAL AUTHORITIES NOT CONTRADICT EACH OTHER. PRISON IS ACTUALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE ALCOHOLIC BECAUSE IT IS VITAL THAT HE MAINTAIN A PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY AND LEARN TO COPE WITH THE STRESSES IT ENTAILS, INSTEAD OF BEING CONFINED COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE TEMPTATION OF ALCOHOL. RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER A PERIOD IN JAIL CAN BE VERY TRAUMATIC FOR THE ALCOHOLIC AND CAN LEAD TO ANXIETIES THAT WILL CAUSE HIM TO RESUME DRINKING. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT MORE CONTACTS BETWEEN THE PENAL SYSTEM AND WELFARE SERVICES MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO INSURE ADEQUATE TREATMENT FOR THE ALCOHOLIC OFFENDER WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROTECTING SOCIETY FROM THE DANGERS OF CRIMINAL ACTS. CHARTS AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)