NCJ Number
60039
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Dated: (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 261-266
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
METHODOLOGY OF THE FINAL REPORT OF THE NEW YORK DRUG LAW EVALUATION COMMITTEE IS EXAMINED CRITICALLY AND WEAKNESSES ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE REPORT'S CONCLUSION, THAT THE ROCKEFELLER LAW HAS NOT DETERRED DRUG USE IN NEW YORK STATE, IS NOT DISPUTED. NEVERTHELESS, THE REPORT HAS SEVERAL METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS: REFERENCES TO PERTINENT MANDATORY SENTENCING LITERATURE; ARE ABSENT SUBANALYSES TO EXAMINE THE DYNAMICS OF THE NONATTAINMENT OF THE DESIRED OUTCOME WERE NOT CONDUCTED, ETHNOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE STUDY DESIGN; AN INTEGRATED AND SOPHISTICATED USE OF MODERN THEORY OF DETERRENCE WAS NOT PRESENTED, INSTEAD, THE QUESTIONS OF SEVERITY, CERTAINTY, AND CELERITY WERE INDIVIDUALLY ADDRESSED IN A COMPARTMENTALIZED FASHION, AND FINALLY, BOTH THE VALIDITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF CRIME'S RELATIONSHIP TO DRUG ABUSE AND THE USE OF THE NEW YORK CITY ARRESTEE POPULATION AS THE PRIMARY DATA SOURCE ARE QUESTIONABLE. NEVERTHELESS, THE COST ANALYSIS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE FINAL REPORT ARE DONE WELL AND HAVE PROVIDED A USEFUL UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEW YORK EXPERIENCE. HOWEVER, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNDERLYING PROCESS OF REACTION TO THE MANDATORY DRUG LAW IS MISSING. A BRIEF REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS COMMENT ON THE COMMITTEE'S INTERIM REPORT AND NOTES, INCLUDING REFERENCES, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)