NCJ Number
19255
Journal
Criminology Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1975) Pages: 474-488
Date Published
1975
Length
15 pages
Annotation
EXAMINATION OF THE TYPES OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY DRUG ADDICTS AND THE POSSIBLE CHANGES IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OVER TIME AS REVEALED BY THEIR ARRESTS.
Abstract
THE THREE BASIC AREAS EXPLORED BY THIS STUDY ARE THE CHANGE OVER TIME IN THE NATURE OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY ADDICTS, THE CHANGE IN THE NATURE OF CRIMES COMMITTED BY A SAMPLE OF ADDICTS SINCE THEY BECAME ADDICTS, AND THE TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME AND ADDICTION. THE SAMPLE FOR THIS STUDY WAS COMPRISED OF FOUR COHORTS OF MALE ADDICTS, AGES 24-25, WHO WERE CRIMINALLY CERTIFIED TO THE NEW YORK STATE NARCOTIC ADDICTION CONTROL COMMISSION. THIS TOTAL OF 589 COHORTS WERE ADMITTED DURING THE FISCAL YEARS 1969 THROUGH 1972. THE TOTAL SAMPLE WAS 47 PERCENT BLACK, 26 PERCENT WHITE AND 27 PER CENT PUERTO RICAN AND THE MEDIAN PERIOD OF DRUG ABUSE WAS 7.2 YEARS. THE STUDY REVEALED THAT ARRESTS FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON ARE BECOMING MORE PROMINENT AMONG ADDICTS ALTHOUGH ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY APPEARED TO BE THE PRIME MOTIVE IN THESE OFFENSES. OVER THE FOUR-YEAR PERIOD ANALYZED, ARRESTS FOR CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY AND DRUG OFFENSES REMAINED THE MORE NUMERICALLY IMPORTANT CATEGORIES EVEN THOUGH ARRESTS FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON INCREASED. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT, FOR EACH TYPE OF OFFENSE, MORE PERSONS WERE ARRESTED AFTER THAN BEFORE THEY INITIATED THEIR DRUG ABUSE PATTERNS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)