Drug-Crime Link - Dilemmas for Policy Makers (From Exploring the Alcohol and Drug Crime Link - Society's Response, P 23-34, 1986, R A Bush, ed. - See NCJ-102892)

• NCJ Number: 102894
• Author(s): R Sackville
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This paper reviews the types of crime related to drug use and discusses dilemmas for policymakers in devising techniques for breaking the drug-crime link.

Abstract

The interest in the drug-crime link has been largely precipitated by public anxiety about the consequences of nonmedical drug use and its association with organized crime activities. The community generally believes there is a clear link between drug use and crime and that there must be a means of breaking this link. The link between drug use and crime includes the criminalization of drug use and associated trafficking. This link will persist as long as drug use and its criminalization continues. Decriminalization or partial decriminalization (no penalties for possession or use whthout the intention to sell) could help reduce this link. Another drug-crime link is due to criminal behavior, particularly violent crime and theft, caused by drug use or drug dependence. This is a complex and variable link that requires extensive research specific to Australia before rational policy can be developed to address it. Another drug-crime link is the expansion of organized crime based on illegal drug marketing activities. Some would address this problem by increasing the tools available to law enforcement in order to detect and obtain evidence on highly placed organized crime figures. Policymakers must decide whether the gains of such a strategy outweigh the traditional freedoms that may be lost. Education and treatment in addition to law enforcement must also be explored as techniques for breaking the drug-crime link. 11 references.