NCJ Number
50276
Date Published
1972
Length
27 pages
Annotation
THE THESIS IS ADVANCED THAT DRUG USE, STOLEN GOODS, AND VICTIMIZATION FORM AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM MEDIATED BY NETWORKS RELATING TO ALL THREE PHENOMENA.
Abstract
A COMMUNITY CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH ADDICTION AND AN ELABORATE SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING STOLEN GOODS IS EXAMINED. FAMILIES WHERE ADDICTION IS PREVALENT ARE BELIEVED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE STOLEN GOODS MARKET SYSTEM AND, IN TURN, MORE OFTEN THE VICTIMS OF CRIME. HEROIN ADDICTS OFTEN ARE LINKED TO A COMPLEX MARKET SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN DISPOSE OF WARES, TO SUPPORT THEIR HABITS, THAT ARE LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM FAMILIES OF OTHER ADDICTS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SOCIOCULTURAL SYSTEMS OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS WHO RESIDE IN THE SAME COMMUNITY HAVE DIFFERENT RATES OF INVOLVEMENT WITH EACH OF THESE FACTORS BECAUSE OF THEIR DIFFERENTIAL INVOLVEMENT WITH THESE DEVIANT NETWORKS. PROCESSES OF ACCULTURATION OPERATE ON YOUNGER PERSONS RESIDENT IN THE COMMUNITY, HOWEVER, SO THE IMPACT OF SOCIOCULTURAL VARIATIONS THROUGH TIME TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH DEVIANT GROUPS MAY DISAPPEAR. THE STUDY INVOLVED A MULTIMODALITY METHADONE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM LOCATED IN BROOKLYN, N.Y. A QUOTA SAMPLE TECHNIQUE WAS EMPLOYED TO OBTAIN INTERVIEWS FROM 275 BLACKS, 145 BRITISH WEST INDIANS, 101 PUERTO RICANS, AND 89 WHITES. SIGNIFICANT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING THREE DISCRETE INDEXES WERE EXAMINED: A FAMILY MEMBER OR RELATIVE HAS USED HEROIN; THE HOUSEHOLD HAS BEEN VICTIMIZED WITHIN THE PAST 12 MONTHS; AND THE RESPONDENT HAS BEEN OFFERED STOLEN GOODS. THE COMPOSITE INDEX LABELED THE 'VICIOUS CIRCLE TYPOLOGY' WAS INCONSISTENTLY RELATED TO A VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS. THE TRADITIONAL CONTROLS OPERATIVE IN EACH OF THE FOUR ETHNIC GROUPS INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE A WEAKENED IMPACT ON THOSE WHO GROW UP IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE WAY THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, RESULTED IN AN INCREASED ASSOCIATION WITH DEVIANT NETWORKS. SUPPORTING STUDY DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)