NCJ Number
35996
Date Published
1972
Length
6 pages
Annotation
INTENDED FOR USE IN CLASSROOM OR ROLL CALL TRAINING SESSIONS, THIS TRAINING KEY PROVIDES PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING ALCOHOLIC OFFENDERS AND RECOMMENDS METHODS FOR COOPERATING WITH TREATMENT CENTERS FOR ALCOHOLICS.
Abstract
NOTING THAT SEVERAL METHODS EXIST FOR HANDLING THE INEBRIATE BY INFORMAL METHODS, THE BULLETIN STRESSES THAT THESE METHODS ARE SELF-DEFEATING SINCE THEY TREAT ONLY THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLISM. THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS OF TWO IMPORTANT TYPES OF ALCOHOLICS - THE SKID ROW DERELICT AND THE WORKING ALCOHOLIC - ARE EXAMINED, AND THE IMPACT OF THESE TWO GROUPS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DISCUSSED. MANY JURISDICTIONS, IT IS NOTED, ARE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IN THEIR PROCEDURES TO HANDLE INEBRIATES ON A PUBLIC HEALTH BASIS RATHER THAN ON A CRIMINAL BASIS. THESE JURISDICTIONS STIPULATE THAT THESE PERSONS SHOULD RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT INSTEAD OF SIMPLE DETOXIFICATION. THE POLICE PROCEDURES THAT SHOULD BE USED TO COMPLY WITH THIS TREATMENT ORIENTATION ARE EXAMINED. ISSUES OF POLICE DISCRETION IN THE HANDLING OF ALCOHOLICS ARE DISCUSSED AS WELL. FINALLY, THE TRAINING KEY REVIEWS THE NEED FOR POLICE COOPERATION WITH ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT CENTERS AND THE POLICE APPROACH THAT SHOULD BE USED WHEN NO CENTERS ARE AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION TO THE LESSON, THIS KEY INCLUDES QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON, SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED READING, AND ANSWERS TO THE TRAINING KEY QUESTIONS. BROAD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE LESSON TOPIC ARE PROVIDED AS WELL.