NCJ Number
58501
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 585-606
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A STUDY CONDUCTED IN SEATTLE, WASH., BEFORE AND AFTER PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS WAS DECRIMINALIZED FOUND THAT POLICE USED DIFFERENT CRITERIA FOR THE FORMAL HANDLING OF SUCH CASES WHEN MEDICAL REFERRALS WERE MANDATED.
Abstract
THE STUDY COVERED 8 MONTHS IN 1974 (BEFORE DECRIMINALIZATION) AND 17 MONTHS IN 1975 AND 1976 (AFTER STATE LAW MANDATED THAT MEDICAL PROCESSING AT AN ALCOHOL DETOXIFICATION FACILITY SHOULD REPLACE ARREST AND INCARCERATION). DATA WERE COLLECTED BY A SINGLE PARTICIPANT OBSERVER AND COVERED 740 'DRUNKENNESS CONTROL ENCOUNTERS' IN THE FIRST PHASE AND 986 IN THE SECOND. THE POLICE CLEARLY REMAINED INVOLVED IN DRUNKENNESS CONTROL AFTER DECRIMINALIZATION BUT TOOK A MORE PASSIVE APPROACH. 'NO CONTROL' OUTCOMES INCREASED OVER 17 PERCENT. SLIGHTLY FEWER NONWHITE PERSONS WERE HANDLED, BUT OTHERWISE THE AGE, SEX, GENERAL APPEARANCE, DEMEANOR, AND GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF THE PERSONS ENCOUNTERED REMAINED THE SAME. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A DECREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF ENCOUNTERS ENDING IN DISPERSAL. BEFORE DECRIMINALIZATION 13.9 PERCENT OF ENCOUNTERS ENDED IN ARREST; AFTER, 7.8 PERCENT ENDED IN FORMAL REFERRAL TO A DETOXIFICATION CENTER. CITIZENS MOST LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED WERE MODERATELY OR HIGHLY INTOXICATED, ENGAGED IN DISORDERLY CONDUCT, HOSTILE, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF A COMPLAINING WITNESS. THOSE REFERRED FOR DETOXIFICATION WERE MORE MODERATELY INTOXICATED, SHOWED SIGNS OF ILLNESS OR INJURY, AND TENDED TO BE OLDER. WHEN DRUNKENNESS WAS HANDLED AS A CRIME, CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS WERE APPLIED; WHEN HANDLED AS AN ILLNESS, MEDICAL STANDARDS WERE APPLIED. THE STUDY IS DOCUMENTED WITH STATISTICS AND INCLUDES REFERENCES. (GLR)