NCJ Number
53160
Journal
Journal of Legal Medicine Volume: 82 Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 1-25
Date Published
1978
Length
26 pages
Annotation
CHANGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF CRIMES COMMITTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL ARE ASSESSED ON THE BASIS OF 8,834 CASES IN HAMBURG, WEST GERMANY, IN 1965 AND 1975.
Abstract
DATA FROM THESE 2 YEARS ARE COMPARED WITH REGARD TO BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS; OFFENDER SEX, AGE, AND PROFESSION; CRIME GROUPS AND GEOGRAPHY; AND THE TIME OF DAY THAT THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED. RESULTS SUGGEST THAT PARTICULAR CRIMES (E.G., BODILY INJURY, RESISTANCE TO ARREST, AND MATERIAL DAMAGES) ARE ALCOHOL-RELATED. THE NUMBER OF ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIMES INCREASED BY 57 PERCENT IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD (55 PERCENT FOR MEN AND 88 PERCENT FOR WOMEN), WITH RATE FOR GRAND LARCENY, MURDER, AND PERSONAL INJURIES RISING ESPECIALLY RAPIDLY. ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIME RATES GREW IN ALL BLOOD CONCENTRATION GROUPS. THE 31-TO 40-YEAR-OLD GROUP AND JUVENILES UNDER 18 EXHIBITED AN APPRECIABLE INCREASE IN ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIMES FOR BOTH SEXES. THE ALCOHOL TOLERANCE OF YOUNG WOMEN ALMOST EQUALED THAT OF YOUNG MEN. ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIMES WERE MOST COMMON AMONG UNSKILLED WORKERS, ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF APPRENTICES AND STUDENTS INVOLVED ALSO ROSE IN THE PERIOD. ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIMES OCCURRED MOST FREQUENTLY IN ENTERTAINMENT AREAS AND IN THE INNER CITY BUT ALSO GREW AT A VERY RAPID RATE IN HOUSING PROJECTS AND NEW HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS. THE RATE OF ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIMES PEAKED IN DECEMBER, ON SATURDAYS, AND BETWEEN 8:00 P.M. AND 2:00 A.M. NOTES, TABLES, AND FIGURES ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)