NCJ Number
68457
Journal
PANSTWO I PRAWO Issue: 12 Dated: (1978) Pages: 43-61
Date Published
1978
Length
19 pages
Annotation
UNREPORTED CRIME SHOULD BE THE BASIS OF STUDIES ON THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL ABUSE (WHICH IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN POLAND) ON CRIME. PROLONGED ALCOHOL ABUSE LEADING TO SOCIAL DEGRADATION AND CRIME SHOULD BE STUDIED.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN POLAND IS NOT GREATER THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES, IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT HAS STEADILY INCREASED. THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMED PER PERSON INCREASED BY 27 PERCENT BETWEEN 1950 AND 1960 AND BY 34 PERCENT IN THE FOLLOWING DECADE; BY 1977 THE CONSUMPTION INCREASE WAS UP BY 60 PERCENT. POLISH DRINKING PATTERN INCLUDES HEAVY CONSUMPTION OF BEVERAGES WITH HIGH ALCOHOL CONTENT, AND POLES SPEND DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AS COMPARED WITH THEIR EXPENDITURES FOR FOOD AND OTHER NEEDS. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ALCOHOL ABUSE PROBLEM AND ITS LINKS TO CRIME HAVE BEEN STUDIED IN POLAND. HOWEVER, MOST STUDIES ARE BASED ON DATA FOR REPORTED CRIME WHICH DO NOT REFLECT THE REALITY. IN ADDITION, STUDIES HAVE CONCENTRATED ON SINGLE OCCURRENCES OF CRIMES COMMITTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, OR IN AN EFFORT TO OBTAIN MONEY FOR ALCOHOL. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A SIMPLIFICATION OF THE ALCOHOL-CRIME LINK AND IN PREDICTIONS OF INCREASED CRIMES INFLUENCED BY THE GREATER AVAILABILITY OF ALCOHOL. THE LATTER HAVE BEEN WRONG, BECAUSE A DECREASING TREND IN THE NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS CAN BE NOTED FOR 1968, WHILE THERE WAS A SIMULTANEOUS INCREASE IN ALCOHOL AVAILABILITY. THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT STUDIES OF THE ALCOHOL-CRIME RELATIONSHIP BE BASED ON ESTIMATES OF UNREPORTED CRIME (OBTAINED FROM SURVEYS) AND ENCOMPASS THE DEFINITIONS OF CRIME HELD BY THE PUBLIC AND BY THE POLICE. IN ADDITION, THE STUDIES SHOULD EXPLORE THE PROCESS OF SOCIAL DEGRADATION THAT RESULTS FROM PROLONGED ALCOHOL ABUSE AND OFTEN LEADS TO CRIME. STATISTICAL DATA AND FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED.