NCJ Number
154358
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1992) Pages: 477-491
Date Published
1992
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Interviews with 186 probationers in Washington, D.C., who acknowledged a recent history of drug dealing formed the basis of this analysis of their earnings from legitimate and illegitimate activities.
Abstract
Most of the interviews took place at the onset of the probationary period. The survey questions focused mainly on the 6-month period before the onset of probation. Results revealed median net earnings of $721 per month from drug sales; the 37 percent of the participants who sold drugs daily reported a median net earnings of $2,000 per month. These figures compare with median monthly earnings of $800 from legitimate employment for the 75 percent who reported such earnings. Results indicated that street-level drug dealing appears to be a complement to rather than a substitute for legitimate employment, and it appears to be less profitable than median reports would suggest. Tables and 5 references (Author abstract modified)