Alcohol/Drugs and the SHO/DI (Serious Habitual Offender/Drug Involved) (From Serious Habitual Offender/Drug Involved Program (SHO/DI), Volume 1: Informational Commentaries, Phase I, 1986, P 4.1-4.7, Robert O Heck et al -- See NCJ-108314)

• NCJ Number: 108318
• Author(s): R O Heck; W Pindur; D K Wells
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-108314.

Annotation

While the relationship between adult serious, habitual offending and drug or alcohol abuse has been extensively documented, controversy exists whether the abuse causes criminal activity or whether drug abuse is more related to personality factors also related to criminality.

Abstract

Studies of juveniles have shown mixed results, with some showing a precriminal involvement in substance abuse and others showing criminal activity preceding involvement in drug and alcohol use. A 1972 national study of 1,532 juveniles found that serious drug involvement was an important contributor to and indicator of the highest rates of offending for most forms of criminality. Several other studies have found relationships between substance abuse and juvenile homicide, serious offending, violence, and habitual offending. Although there appears to be a serious relationship between substance use and serious juvenile offending, more research is needed to elucidate the pattern of events leading to the relationship and the variables involved and how they interact. 15 endnotes.