NCJ Number
158266
Journal
Deviant Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Journal Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-March 1995) Pages: 25-43
Date Published
1995
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Based on a sample of incarcerated women in prisons in Quebec, Canada in 1989, this study focuses on drug use and abuse and its relationship to crime, with emphasis on the age of onset, the nature of the conviction, the previous involvement in criminal activities, motivation, and related variables.
Abstract
Results revealed that more than half the women were less than 35 years old, lived on welfare, were high school dropouts, earned less than $12,000 annually, were married or living with someone, supported children, and had previous convictions. The age of onset for this group of women was sometimes as young as 10 years or younger for alcohol, marijuana, nonprescription medication, and inhalants. Findings indicated that these offenders' profiles consisted of drug-related problems rather than a deep involvement in criminality. Within this population of female inmates, a strong link between drugs and crime is difficult to establish. Future research should rely more on qualitative analyses to gather a better understanding of the operating processes. Tables, footnotes, and 41 references (Author abstract modified)