NCJ Number
108476
Date Published
1987
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Speakers discuss drug testing of arrestees, the relationship between drug use and crime, and programs of pretrial drug testing in the District of Columbia and Dade County, Fla.
Abstract
Dr. Eric Wish, who has been involved in research on drug use and crime, focuses on various drug testing methods, including their limitations and reliability and the relationship between drug use and crime. He advises that research clearly shows that drug users, notably multiple drug users, are more criminally active than nonusers. Jay Carver, head of pretrial services in the District of Columbia, describes that jurisdiction's mandatory arrestee drug testing program. Drug testing information is used to inform release decisions and the conditions of release. Drug testing information cannot be used as evidence in a criminal case. A useful contribution from the program is the supplying of data on drug use patterns in the District of Columbia. Judge Gerald Wetherington describes the experimental voluntary drug testing of 2,000 arrestees in Dade County to advance the state of knowledge on drug use patterns among arrestees. He opposes mandatory, indiscriminate testing of arrestees without probable cause for drug use because of the intrusiveness of such testing. Audience questions are included on the tape.