NCJ Number
64429
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A PROFILE OF THE PUBLIC INEBRIATE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIF., IS PRESENTED, AND POLICE USE OF DIVERSION OPTIONS FOR SUCH PERSONS IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, PERSONS ARRESTED FOR PUBLIC INEBRIACY GENERALLY ARE FOUND IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA; THE TYPICAL ARRESTEE EXPERIENCES SEVERE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION. THE VISIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC INEBRIATE IS USUALLY THE REASON FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION. IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, PERSONS UP FOR PUBLIC INEBRIANCY MAY BE DIVERTED TO AN ALCOHOLISM PROGRAM CALLED THE INEBRIATE RECEPTION CENTER (IRC). INFORMAL SCREENING AND COUNSELING AT THE IRC IS THE VEHICLE FOR REFERRING INTERESTED CLIENTS TO THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAM, USUALLY INVOLVING A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE. GIVEN THE OPTION OF JAIL AND A DIVERSION PROGRAM, THE POLICE OFFICER HAS THE DISCRETION OF DETERMINING WHICH TO USE FOR EACH PUBLIC INEBRIATE ARRESTED. ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE PUBLIC INEBRIATES PICKED UP ARE DIVERTED AND THE REMAINDER ARE JAILED. CRITERIA FOR DIVERSION INDICATE THAT IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE, AN ARRESTEE MUST BE WILLING TO STAY A MINIMUM OF 4 HOURS AT THE DIVERSION PROGRAM, MUST BE NONCOMBATIVE AND CONSCIOUS, MUST HAVE NO SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS, AND MUST HAVE NO OTHER CHARGES AGAINST HIM. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR DIVERSION WERE NOT BEING CONSISTENTLY DIVERTED BY THE POLICE. WHEN QUESTIONED AS TO WHY, OFFICERS INDICATED THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THE ARRESTEES WOULD STAY AT THE DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR 4 HOURS. INQUIRIES REVEALED, HOWEVER, THAT THOSE DIVERTED DID CONSISTENTLY REMAIN AT THE PROGRAM FOR THE REQUIRED TIME. THE IRC PROGRAM IS BEING UNDERUSED BY THE POLICE, ALTHOUGH THE FACILITY IS LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMODATE THE INEBRIATES CURRENTLY BEING JAILED. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)