NCJ Number
59437
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
COUNTY-BY-COUNTY STATISTICS POINT OUT INDIAN ARRESTS, PARTICULARLY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, IN OKLAHOMA, AND RESOURCES USED FOR TREATMENT OF INDIAN SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARE SUMMARIZED.
Abstract
ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSES COMPOSE THE GREATEST PART OF INDIAN CRIME IN OKLAHOMA, THE STATE HAVING THE LARGEST NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION OF ANY IN THE NATION. INDIAN DRUNKENNESS ARRESTS ACCOUNT FOR 28.1 PERCENT OF ALL DRUNKENNESS ARRESTS IN THE STATE. IN SOME COUNTIES, ARRESTS FOR DRUNKENNESS ARE EVEN HIGHER (I.E. BLAINE COUNTY, 84.9 PERCENT AND DEWEY COUNTY, 76.3 PERCENT). DRUG ABUSE ALSO IS A PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY INVOLVING MARIHUANA, AS EVIDENCED BY THE MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG INDIANS ADMITTED TO DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS, (72 PERCENT) AS OPPOSED TO BLACKS (37 PERCENT) AND WHITES (51.25 PERCENT). FIFTY-TWO ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT CENTERS REPORTED SERVING 1,395 INDIANS, 12 PERCENT OF THEIR TOTAL CLIENTS. THE NATIVE AMERICAN CENTER ALSO HAS AN OUTREACH PROGRAM WHICH HANDLES THE ABUSE OF INHALANTS BY INDIANS. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE REASONS FOR THE HIGH PERCENTAGES OF INDIANS ARRESTED, ESPECIALLY FOR DRUNKENNESS, IN THE STATE. EDUCATION AND PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAMS SHOULD BE INSTITUTED IN AREAS WITH HIGH INCIDENCES OF INDIAN ARRESTS OR ADMISSIONS TO TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND RESEARCH REGARDING NUTRITIONAL FACTORS WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. FINALLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO RECRUIT INDIAN OFFICERS AND DIVERT INDIANS CHARGED WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE OFFENSES TO TREATMENT PROGRAMS. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES OF THE VARIOUS INDIAN POPULATIONS IN THE STATE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN DEVELOPING SERVICES. TABULAR DATA AND SOME REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)