Abstract
Numerous studies have established a strong connection between the use of illicit drugs and the commission of other illegal activities, including both predatory and property crimes. No study, however, has examined the cost of crimes associated with drug users both as victims and as perpetrators. In the present study, recent data were analyzed from a targeted sample of chronic drug users (CDUs) and a matched sample of non-drug users (NDUs) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, to estimate the incremental cost of crime associated with CDU. Two separate models were employed to estimate (1) the probability of being a victim or a perpetrator of crime and (2) the cost of crime for both situations. The cost measures were transformed to reduce the influence of extreme outliers, and a smearing technique was used to compare the cost of crime for CDUs relative to NDUs. The findings illustrate that criminal activity among CDUs is circular, extensive, and costly. Implications for law enforcement, criminal justice policy, and substance abuse treatment are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 217-241 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Journal of Quantitative Criminology |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2004 |
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Keywords
- chronic drug users
- cost of crime
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
Revolving roles in drug-related crime : The cost of chronic drug users as victims and perpetrators. / French, Michael; McCollister, Kathryn; Kébreau Alexandre, Pierre; Chitwood, Dale D.; McCoy, Clyde B.
In: Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Vol. 20, No. 3, 01.09.2004, p. 217-241.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Revolving roles in drug-related crime
T2 - The cost of chronic drug users as victims and perpetrators
AU - French, Michael
AU - McCollister, Kathryn
AU - Kébreau Alexandre, Pierre
AU - Chitwood, Dale D.
AU - McCoy, Clyde B
PY - 2004/9/1
Y1 - 2004/9/1
N2 - Numerous studies have established a strong connection between the use of illicit drugs and the commission of other illegal activities, including both predatory and property crimes. No study, however, has examined the cost of crimes associated with drug users both as victims and as perpetrators. In the present study, recent data were analyzed from a targeted sample of chronic drug users (CDUs) and a matched sample of non-drug users (NDUs) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, to estimate the incremental cost of crime associated with CDU. Two separate models were employed to estimate (1) the probability of being a victim or a perpetrator of crime and (2) the cost of crime for both situations. The cost measures were transformed to reduce the influence of extreme outliers, and a smearing technique was used to compare the cost of crime for CDUs relative to NDUs. The findings illustrate that criminal activity among CDUs is circular, extensive, and costly. Implications for law enforcement, criminal justice policy, and substance abuse treatment are discussed.
AB - Numerous studies have established a strong connection between the use of illicit drugs and the commission of other illegal activities, including both predatory and property crimes. No study, however, has examined the cost of crimes associated with drug users both as victims and as perpetrators. In the present study, recent data were analyzed from a targeted sample of chronic drug users (CDUs) and a matched sample of non-drug users (NDUs) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, to estimate the incremental cost of crime associated with CDU. Two separate models were employed to estimate (1) the probability of being a victim or a perpetrator of crime and (2) the cost of crime for both situations. The cost measures were transformed to reduce the influence of extreme outliers, and a smearing technique was used to compare the cost of crime for CDUs relative to NDUs. The findings illustrate that criminal activity among CDUs is circular, extensive, and costly. Implications for law enforcement, criminal justice policy, and substance abuse treatment are discussed.
KW - chronic drug users
KW - cost of crime
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U2 - 10.1023/B:JOQC.0000037732.00489.ad
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:4444244357
VL - 20
SP - 217
EP - 241
JO - Journal of Quantitative Criminology
JF - Journal of Quantitative Criminology
SN - 0748-4518
IS - 3
ER -