Incapacitation Effects of Incarcerating Drug Offenders: Longitudinal Arrest Histories of Adults Arrested in Washington, DC, 1985-1986
Description
This study examined differences in criminal career
parameters that determine the potential incapacitative effects of
alternative sentencing policies directed at drug-involved
offenders. In particular, the researchers explored three key aspects
of offenders' criminal careers: participation, frequency of offending,
and termination rates from active offending. The study focused on
differences in levels of serious offending by drug-using and nonusing
drug offenders compared to drug-using and nonusing predatory
offenders. Longitudinal arrest data for a sample of arrestees were
collected to characterize the offending patterns of drug-using and
nonusing drug offenders and predatory offenders. The sample was drawn
from adults arrested in Washington, DC, on any charge from July 1,
1985, to June 30, 1986. Data were collected from case files maintained
by the Washington, DC, Pretrial Services Agency for 883 arrestees and
5,387 arrests. Previous and subsequent arrests of the same individual
were linked to form an arrest history. Within the sample of arrestees,
three main types of offenders were distinguished based on offense
charge at target arrest: (1) drug offenders, (2) predatory offenders
(persons charged with robbery or burglary), and (3) all others. This
study focused on the first two groups and distinguished drug users
from non-users based on the results of a urine drug screen
administered following the target arrest. Variables regarding arrests
include date of arrest, drug test result, charges filed, disposition
date, disposition type, and sentence length imposed. Demographic
variables include race, sex, and place of birth.