Www.aic.gov.au Australian Government Australian Institute of Criminology Drugs, Alcohol and Crime: A...

www.aic.gov.auAustralian Government

Australian Institute of Criminology

Drugs, Alcohol and Crime: A study of juvenile detainees

Jason Payne

‘AIJA Youth Justice and Child Protection Conference’Hobart, Monday 3 April 2006

Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au

The DUCO study

Funded by the Australian Government Attorney General’s Department under the National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS).

Third component of the DUCO study: Males 2001; Females 2003; Juveniles 2004.

Aim: to investigate the link between drugs and crime.

Data collection: interviewer administered self-report questionnaire.


The analysis

Sample: 371 juvenile detainees aged between 11-17 from across all Australian States and Territories in 2004.

The juveniles were asked to nominate up to four offences which led to the current period of detention – remand or sentence.

These offences were used to classify offenders on the basis of aggregate offence categories.

The following presentation is based on an analysis of three juvenile offender groups:

Violent-only offenders Property-only offenders Violent and property offenders.


Current offence (%)

58

67

21

11

2

58

37

41 0

0

20

40

60

80

100

Violent Property Breach Traffic Drug

Any

Most Serious Offence (MSO)

Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]


Sample characteristics

All ViolentViolent

and Property

Property

% Male 93 89 94 96

Mean Age 15.8 16.1 15.8 15.6

% Indigenous 59 46 55 71

% Still in school 24 27 17 26



Offending characteristics


All ViolentViolent

and Property

Property

% Prior detention 50 43 50 55

% Regular property 88 83 92 89

% Regular violent 36 45 42 24

First property offence 10.9 11.0 11.1 10.7

First violent offence 12.7 13.1 12.4 12.6


Alcohol use (%)

97 9996 97

88 8691

87

0

20

40

60

80

100

All Violent only Violent and Property Property only

Ever used Used in past 6 months



Cannabis use (%)

95 94 9296

8479

82

89

0

20

40

60

80

100


Ever used Used in the last 6 months



Amphetamine use (%)

50 50

66

3540

43

56

25

0

20

40

60

80

100


Ever used* Used in the past 6 months*

*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]


Ecstasy use (%)

3439

42

2424 2630

18

0

20

40

60

80

100


Ever used* Used in the past 6 months*



Summary – Offending and Drug Use

On the basis of current offences, one third of juveniles were in detention for violent offences only, one third for property offences only, and the remaining one third for both property and violence.

In terms of demographic profile, the only significant difference between the groups was that property-only offenders were more likely to identify as Indigenous.

Around half of the juveniles in detention had been in detention on at least one other occasion. There was no difference by current offence type.

Offence specialisation was rare, most violent-only offenders self-reported regular property offending. One in four property-only offenders were regularly engaged in violent offences.


Summary – Offending and Drug Use

Almost all juveniles in detention have used alcohol and 90% had used alcohol in the last six months.

More than 90% of juveniles had used cannabis and more than 80% had used cannabis in the last six months.

Half of the juveniles had used amphetamine and 40% had used amphetamine in the last six months.

Amphetamine and ecstasy use was more prevalent amongst juveniles who are currently in detention for violent offences.

Juveniles detained for both violent and property offences were the group most frequently reporting hard drug use.


Intoxicated at time of offending* (%)

6865

77

64

49

42

62

4447

5653

37

0

20

40

60

80

100


Any Illegal Drugs Alcohol



Intoxicated at time of offending (%)

76

56

7984

3844

52

1711 10

18

3

0

20

40

60

80

100


Cannabis* Speed* Ecstasy*



Sick or hurting from lack of drugs* (%)

23

15

30

22

0

20

40

60

80

100




Lifetime impact of drugs on offending* (%)

73 74

83

66

0

20

40

60

80

100




Lifetime impact of drugs on offending* (%)

66

79

68

53

34

21

32

47

0

20

40

60

80

100


Psychopharmacological Economic Compulsive



Risk Factors (%)

38

74

59

3025

0

20

40

60

80

100

Truancy often Detention often Expelled ever Parental drug use Sibling drug use



Risk Factors (%)

18

36

27

0

20

40

60

80

100

Neglect Physical abuse* Emotional abuse

*Statistically significant difference between charge status, at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]


Summary – Links and Risk Factors

Two in three juveniles reported being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs at the time of their most recent offences.

Violent-only offenders were more likely to be intoxicated by alcohol than property-only offenders.

One in five juveniles report being sick or hurting from the lack of drugs.

More than 70% of juveniles reported that drugs and alcohol had an impact on their lifetime offending.


Summary – Links and Risk Factors

Nearly one in three juveniles had parents who were using drugs.

More than half had been expelled from school and one in three were skipping school on a regular basis.

One in three juveniles reported being physically abused and one in four were emotionally abused while growing up.


Summary – Final Thoughts

Studies have shown that well conceptualised intervention programs for juvenile offenders that take place in the community, working with families and through real issues have a far greater chance of changing behaviour than most custodial programs (Atkinson 1997).

There is little evidence that incarceration reduces the levels or frequency of substance abuse (Putnins 2001).

Juvenile justice interventions must take account of the variety of different problems faced by juvenile offenders, including, but not limited to substance use (Wei, Makkai and McGregor 2003).

www.aic.gov.auAustralian Government

Australian Institute of Criminology

Drugs, Alcohol and Crime: A study of juvenile detainees

Jason Payne

‘AIJA Youth Justice and Child Protection Conference’Hobart, Monday 3 April 2006

Www.aic.gov.au Australian Government Australian Institute of Criminology Drugs, Alcohol and Crime: A...

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