NCJ Number
99064
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: (July 1985) Pages: 317-325
Date Published
1985
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Interviews with 55 Canadian youths charged with minor alchol consumption or possession offences found that sanctions were ineffective in preventing recidivism and that certain factors correlated with recidivism.
Abstract
One hundred youths, representing 40 percent of all the underage drinking cases processed during the period, charged with minor alcohol consumption or possession offenses were interviewed immediately upon final disposition at a provincial court in Toronto, Ontario, over an 8-month period. After a minimum of a 1-year followup period, interviews were conducted with 55 (78.6 percent) of the 70 arrestees who had agreed to the followup. The initial court interview provided information on such topics as deterrence, moral commitment, previous legal problems, social environment, and drinking behavior measures. Participants completed a modified Park-Williams scale, which measures the presence or absence of 15 alcohol-related problems. In the followup interview, participants were asked to report any subsequent legal difficulities associated with drinking. The Park-Williams scale and questions on the quantity and frequency of drinking were repeated. Being charged and sentenced for underage drinking did little to reduce subsequent drinking problems. Recidivism was associated with not being in school, high Park-Williams scores, and high levels of alcohol consumption. High quantities of alcohol consumption were associated with low perceived probability of being caught, poorer attitudes toward the law, a belief that young people should be allowed to drink, and a reporting of higher levels of alcohol consumption by mothers. Tabular data and 19 references are provided.