NCJ Number
28209
Date Published
1974
Length
47 pages
Annotation
WITH A FOCUS ON ILLEGAL SUPPORT, ARRESTS, AND TIME IN JAIL AS CRIMINALITY INDICATORS, THE CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT OF 3483 DRUG ABUSERS WAS FOLLOWED FOR THEIR FIRST 6 TO 12 MONTHS IN METHADONE MAINTENANCE OR DRUG-FREE TREATMENT.
Abstract
SUBJECTS WERE SELECTED FROM 31 DIFFERENT AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN THE DRUG ABUSE REPORTING PROGRAM. DATA WAS GATHERED FROM THE ADMISSION RECORDS AND BIMONTHLY STATUS REPORTS ON PATIENTS. PRIOR CRIMINALITY OF PATIENTS WAS FIRST EXAMINED. IT WAS FOUND THAT PRIOR CRIMINALITY, AS INDICATED BY ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS, AND INCARCERATION, WAS GREATEST FOR THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN ETHNIC GROUP AND THE LEAST FOR PUERTO RICANS, WHILE BLACKS AND WHITES FELL IN BETWEEN. LESS CRIMINALITY PRIOR TO ADMISSION WAS REPORTED FOR FEMALES THAN FOR MALES, AND AS EXPECTED, A STRONG RELATIONSHIP TO AGE WAS FOUND. THESE ETHNIC AND SEX DIFFERENCES IN CRIMINALITY WERE MAINTAINED DURING THE TREATMENT PERIOD IN THE PREVALENCE OF ARRESTS AND TIME IN JAIL DURING TREATMENT. NO TRENDS IN PREVALENCE WERE OBSERVED WITHIN ETHNIC GROUPS OVER THE TIME IN TREATMENT. THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECLINE IN THE PREVALENCE OF ARRESTS AMONG FEMALES DURING THE FIRST YEAR IN TREATMENT. THE PREVALENCE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AS A SOURCE OF SUPPORT WAS FOUND TO BE MUCH HIGHER FOR THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN GROUP. PREVALENCE IN CRIMINALITY INDICATORS IN RELATION TO AGE GROUP IS ALSO DISCUSSED. IT WAS NOTED THAT ONLY 6.7 PERCENT OF THE 3483 PATIENTS WERE ARRESTED ONE OR MORE TIMES FOR OTHER THAN MINOR OFFENSES DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF TREATMENT. DURING THE FIRST 6 TO 12 MONTHS, ONLY 15 PERCENT OF THOSE ON METHADONE TREATMENT SHOWED ANY RECURRING INDICATIONS OF CRIMINALITY FROM ONE TWO MONTH PERIOD TO ANOTHER. OTHER FINDINGS OF THE STUDY ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)