A discrete-time survival study of drug use and property offending : implications for early intervention and treatment

摘要: The nexus between drug use and criminal offending is of great interest to policy makers researchers alike. possibility that both illegal activities are interrelated provides promise targeted interventions, such as diversion programs courts, may have a tangible influence in reducing the social economic costs crime community. Although most academic arenas agree drugs interconnected, nature relationship remains highly contested. This report contributes this debate through an examination initiation escalation where it seeks identify whether: increases likelihood offence escalation, whether particular play more or less important role increasing offending; delayed onset decreases risk escalation; and, self-reported motives for engagement help predict risk. study uses data from Australian Institute Criminology's Drug Use Careers Offenders Study (DUCO), interviewer-administered survey use, conducted 2001 among adult male prisoners Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania Northern Territory examine temporal pattern offending. Using survival analysis technique, examines profile 1,500 property offenders their escalating regular including cannabis other illicit drugs, modelled predictors means estimating effect on decreasing across career. results provide some findings development policies aimed at preventing crime.