NCJ Number
209825
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2005 Pages: 343-355
Date Published
June 2005
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article presents the findings from a recent Australian survey of gambling, problem gambling, and gambling-related crimes among offenders.
Abstract
Survey participants were residents in correctional centers in Canberra. Those surveyed were either on remand, community service orders, periodic detention, or probation and parole. Voluntary participation in the survey yielded 102 respondents (97 men and 5 women). This sample composed 11.2 percent of the community correctional population of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and was demographically representative of the correctional population. The survey consisted of a standard screening tool that addressed the prevalence of problem gambling (South Oaks Gambling Screen). The screening distinguished between moderate problem gambling and severe problem gambling. The second survey component included questions about legal and illegal drug use, help-seeking tendencies, gambling while incarcerated at remand facilities, and questions about gambling-related offenses. The survey found that 27.5 percent of respondents were nongamblers, 38.1 percent were regular or nonproblem gamblers, and 34.3 percent had some type of gambling problem. The rate of problem gambling among respondents was approximately 18 times higher than that found in the ACT general adult population, more than 16 times that of the national Australian population, and more than 30 times higher than problem-gambling estimates for the U.S general population. Forty percent of all problem gamblers believed that gambling had caused them problems in the 12 months prior to conviction. The obvious implication of this study is that offenders with gambling problems should be offered therapeutic services while in the correctional system. 3 tables and 53 references