CRIMINAL CHARGES AND DRUG USE PATTERNS OF ARRESTEES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - TECHNICAL PAPER

• NCJ Number: 43925
• Author(s): N J KOZEL; R L DUPONT
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare; US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED ON DRUG USE AND CRIME PATTERNS OF 44,223 CONSECUTIVE ADMISSIONS TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SUPERIOR COURT LOCKUP BETWEEN DECEMBER 1971 AND APRIL 1975.

Abstract

WHILE THE NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSTANT, DRUG-POSITIVE URINALYSES DECLINED SUBSTANTIALLY IN 1973 AND REMAINED AT A LOWER LEVEL THROUGH 1975. HEROIN USE SHOWED A DECLINE SIMILAR TO THE OVERALL TREND IN 1973, BUT BEGAN TO INCREASE IN MID-1974. GENERALLY, ARRESTEES WHO WERE DRUG POSITIVE WERE LESS LIKELY TO BE CHARGED WITH MAJOR CRIMES OF VIOLENCE THAN DRUG-NEGATIVE ARRESTEES. EXCEPTIONS TO THIS PATTERN AS WELL AS TRENDS IN DRUG USE AND CRIME IN THE ARRESTED POPULATION ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR AND GRAPHIC FORM, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).