| How to Obtain
Documents |
| |
| NCJ Number:
|
NCJ 100274
|
| Title:
|
Police Management of Public Drunkenness in Scotland
|
| Journal:
|
British Journal of Criminology Volume:25 Issue:4 Dated:(October 1985) Pages:344-364
|
| Author(s):
|
P McLaughlin
|
| Publication Date:
|
1985 |
| Pages:
|
19 |
| Type:
|
Surveys |
| Origin:
|
United Kingdom |
| Language:
|
English |
| Annotation:
|
This study examined the impact of the individual attitudes, experiences, and perceptions of Scottish police officers on the routine management of public drunkenness. |
| Abstract:
|
Data came from one division of a Scottish police force and were gathered from January to June 1982. Information came from interviews and informal discussions with 66 police officers, analysis of police reports, and direct observations of encounters between police officers and intoxicated persons. Results revealed that most encounters with drunks occurred on the streets. The majority (72 percent) of the officers had had informal contacts with drunks during the previous month. A total of 39 percent had made an arrest on a charge of ''drunk had made an arrest on a charge of ''drunk and incapable.' Two-thirds had been involved in arrests for breach of the peace where drunkenness appeared to have been a significant factor. Police defined four categories of public drunk: down and out or habitual drunks, weekend drunks, occasional drunks, and young people. The habitual drunks were few in number but usually required arrest. Most officers viewed punishment in general and the use of the criminal law in particular as ineffective and inappropriate as responses to drunkenness. Police officers' age, sex, and length of service were not clearly related to attitudes or behavior toward drunks. Perceived options for informal handling of drunks strongly influenced their handling of drunks. Until an alternative is found, police will probably continue to arrest homeless drunken offenders. Footnotes, tables, 30 references. |
| Main Term(s):
|
Police decisionmaking |
| Index Term(s):
|
Drunkenness ; Police discretion ; Police diversion ; Offender profiles ; Scotland |
| |
To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=100274
|
* A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents
not available online, a link to the publisher's web site is provided.
|
|
Help | Contact Us | Home
