NCJ Number
61185
Date Published
1979
Length
198 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOLISM AND VIOLENCE, THIS STUDY EXPLORES THE EFFECT OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD ALCOHOLISM ON THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLICS BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH PROFESSIONALS WHO DEAL REGULARLY WITH ALCOHOLICS (POLICE, DOCTORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, THE JUDICIARY), ALCOHOLISM IS VIEWED AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM, EVEN WHEN THE ALCOHOLIC COMMITS AN ACT OF VIOLENCE. BECAUSE OF SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF ALCOHOL AS EITHER A RITUAL, AN APPROVED DRUG, OR A SYMBOL OF VIRILITY, PERSONS COMITTING VIOLENT ACTS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL ARE OFTEN DIVERTED FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. EVEN THE CURRENT TREND ATTRIBUTING MORE RESPONSIBILITY TO ALCOHOLICS FOR THEIR ACTS CONTINUES TO ISOLATE ALCOHOL AS THE CAUSE OF DEVIANCY, RATHER THAN CONCENTRATING ON THE VIOLENT ACT COMMITTED. SITUATIONS IN WHICH ALCOHOL-RELATED VIOLENT ACTS OCCUR AND THE PHYSICAL DETERIORATION THAT ACCOMPANIES ALCOHOLISM ARE EXAMINED. CASE STUDIES OF VIOLENT ALCOHOLICS AND EXAMPLES OF THE LEVELS OF TOLERANCE EXPRESSED BY VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY ARE PRESENTED. THE ANALYSIS CONCLUDES THAT THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARD ALCOHOL-RELATED VIOLENT ACTS WILL DETERMINE THE FORM OF CONTROL EXERCISED OVER THOSE ACTS. APPENDIXES PROVIDE TABLES, GRAPHS, AND STATISTICAL DATA, AND AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. --IN FRENCH. (MHP)