NCJ Number
188804
Journal
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: 2001 Pages: 37-55
Date Published
2001
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined alcohol and violence among youth admitted for the first time into an Arkansas boot camp for non-violent offenders.
Abstract
Self-report data indicated that 69 percent of the inmates (N = 600) had three or more violent offenses prior to entering boot camp. Discriminant analysis indicated, by order of entry (from highest to lowest discrimination), that the following were related to violence: carrying a weapon, association with peers who engage in violence, more alcohol consumption, attempted suicide, younger age, use of amphetamines, persons of color, feelings of alienation, low self-esteem, and unprotected sex. Gang membership and physical and sexual abuse by adults were not significant discriminators of violence. The study suggests that this may be because abuse is under-reported among young males and gang membership actually may be less influential than the other factors because gangs have become more instrumental, organized, and entrepreneurial. It further suggests that, while gangs engage in violence for a variety of reasons, they may not be the primary source of individual violent acts. Tables, references