NCJ Number
214432
Editor(s)
Janeena Jamison-Wing,
Meredith Pond,
Roberta Silva,
K. Ann Cronin
Date Published
2005
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study drew on data from the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to examine the role of alcohol and drugs in violent crimes committed in Idaho.
Abstract
Results indicated that from 1998 through the end of 2004, there was an average of 14,828 violent crimes committed each year in Idaho involving 1 offender in each case. Approximately 15.6 percent of these violent crimes involved an offender suspected of using drugs or alcohol. The percentage of violent crimes involving drugs or alcohol declined during the study period, including a 14 percent decline in the last 2 years. Alcohol use was suspected in 14 percent of violent crimes, drug use was suspected in 1 percent of violent crimes, and both alcohol and drug use were suspected in 0.5 percent of violent crimes in Idaho. Violent crimes involving drugs or alcohol were most likely to occur at someone’s home (66 percent), between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. (57 percent), on a weekend (56 percent), in July and August (21 percent), and to involve a weapon or use of force (97 percent). The victims of violent crimes involving drug or alcohol use by the perpetrator were most likely to be female (59 percent), to be between the ages of 25 to 34 years (29 percent), to be White (96.7 percent), and to suffer an injury (63.6 percent). Offenders using drugs or alcohol at the time of a violent offense were more likely to be male (83 percent) and above the age of 32 years. The findings suggest that drugs and alcohol play a smaller role in violent crime in Idaho in comparison to the rest of the country. Data on violent crimes reported to the police from 1998 through 2004 were drawn from Idaho’s repository for the NIBRS. Descriptive statistics were generated to analyze the role of alcohol and drugs in violent crime in Idaho. Tables, charts, references, appendix