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.
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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.
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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
Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2005 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Offending characteristics
Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2005 [computer file]
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
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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
Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Cannabis use (%)
95 94 9296
8479
82
89
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Violent only Violent and Property Property only
Ever used Used in the last 6 months
Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Amphetamine use (%)
50 50
66
3540
43
56
25
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Violent only Violent and Property Property only
Ever used* Used in the past 6 months*
*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Ecstasy use (%)
3439
42
2424 2630
18
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Violent only Violent and Property Property only
Ever used* Used in the past 6 months*
*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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.
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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.
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Intoxicated at time of offending* (%)
6865
77
64
49
42
62
4447
5653
37
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Violent only Violent and Property Property only
Any Illegal Drugs Alcohol
*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Intoxicated at time of offending (%)
76
56
7984
3844
52
1711 10
18
3
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Violent only Violent and Property Property only
Cannabis* Speed* Ecstasy*
*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Sick or hurting from lack of drugs* (%)
23
15
30
22
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Violent only Violent and Property Property only
*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Lifetime impact of drugs on offending* (%)
73 74
83
66
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Violent only Violent and Property Property only
*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Lifetime impact of drugs on offending* (%)
66
79
68
53
34
21
32
47
0
20
40
60
80
100
All Violent only Violent and Property Property only
Psychopharmacological Economic Compulsive
*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
Risk Factors (%)
38
74
59
3025
0
20
40
60
80
100
Truancy often Detention often Expelled ever Parental drug use Sibling drug use
*Statistically significant at p<0.05Source: Australian Institute of Criminology, DUCO Juvenile Survey, 2004 [computer file]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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]
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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.
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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.
Australian Institute of Criminologywww.aic.gov.au
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