NCJ Number
148897
Journal
Prevention File Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1994) Pages: 18-20
Date Published
1994
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Recognizing that alcohol and other drugs are significant factors in community problems, the city of Pasadena, California, created the Alcohol Sensitive Information Planning System (ASIPS) to collect and organize information on the involvement of alcohol and other drugs in local crime.
Abstract
The ASIPS was designed to provide information on how alcohol and drugs are involved in police incidents. The first step in system development was to collect information about local problems. Police officers adopted a brief form when responding to calls, a form to classify the setting and to note whether drugs were involved in the incident being investigated. Police officers also began collecting information about suspects, victims, and witnesses. During four 2-week periods between December 1990 and July 1993, information was obtained on 2,554 incidents. Alcohol played a larger role in police incidents than expected. About one- half of all arrests involved people who had been drinking. Public drunkenness alone accounted for 15 percent of arrests. In contrast, other drugs were involved in 12 percent of arrests, and about one-third of those arrests involved alcohol as well. Alcohol was involved in 60 percent of domestic violence cases. ASIPS information further revealed that minors and young adults who had been drinking or using other drugs accounted for a major share of police problems. After reviewing ASIPS information, Pasadena officials established action committees to work on three priority areas: problem alcohol outlets, onsite alcohol management, and alcohol availability to youth. Due to the success of the successful pilot project involving ASIPS, city officials are considering a series of recommendations on alcohol policies and procedures aimed at further reducing neighborhood problems.