NCJ Number
204843
Date Published
2003
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This chapter discusses the relationship between illicit drug use and crime in Great Britain and examines the impact that recent government proposals regarding dependent drug users are likely to achieve.
Abstract
These proposals were outlined in the White Paper, "Justice for All" (Home Office, 2001), and they are included in the 2002 Criminal Justice Bill being considered by Parliament at the time of this writing in early 2003. These policies contain measures designed to identify dependent drug users as they pass through the criminal process and to coerce them into treatment for drug dependency. The rationale is that coerced drug treatment can be effective and that effective drug treatment will reduce levels of offending among problem users. After examining the research evidence that pertains to the links between drug dependency and other forms of crime, this chapter summarizes the proposals in the White Paper and discusses the provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill. The chapter concludes with a discussion of whether coerced treatment for drug-dependent offenders is a viable policy option and whether the government's proposals will work in practice. The chapter concludes that there is a demonstrable causal relationship between drug dependency and offending, notably property crime. It has also been found that drug treatment can be effective when delivered under conditions of coercion. On the other hand, the effectiveness of the policies will turn on the practical implementation of the policies. The policies require funding for alternative treatment programs that match the needs of various types of drug-dependent offenders. In addition, there are dilemmas that arise when offenders fail to comply fully with the conditions of their treatment order. The rate of increase in treatment budgets is encouraging, along with the experience of working with pooled treatment budgets. 45 references