Drugs and Crime: A Survey of N.S.W. (New South Wales) Prison Property Offenders

• NCJ Number: 115604
• Author(s): I Dobinson; P Ward
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 95 pages
• Corporate Author: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

Self-respect data gathered from 225 property offenders incarcerated in New South Wales (Australia) correctional institutions revealed that drug users were more heavily involved in property crime than nonusers.

Abstract

The randomly selected sample -- 210 males and 15 females -- was interviewed between May and August 1983. Participants were divided into drug users, 39.6 percent, and nonusers, 60.4 percent. Heroin was by far the most popular drug consumed by users. The main source of income for heroin users was illicit activities, predominantly property crime. For nonusers, legal activities like employment and social security provided most income. Almost all heroin users reported the need to support their habit as the main reason for committing a major crime. Compared to nonusers, heroin users generated significantly more income when committing property crimes. As the level of heroin consumed increased, so did the amount spent and the amount generated by property crime. Drug users were more likely than nonusers to progress from the initial commission of a crime to the regular commission of that crime. The survey's implications for policy are discussed. The survey questionnaire, tables, and over 70 references.