Alcohol and Crime: Impact on Justice System
Explore the strong link between alcohol and crime, with statistics showing a significant relationship between alcohol use and offending behaviors within the justice system. Discover the impact of alcohol problems on health, wellbeing, and community benefit, emphasizing the need for recognizing and addressing these issues in prison settings.
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Presentation Transcript
Alcohol (in)justice 19thApril 2023 Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh Dr Lesley Graham SHAAP
Alcohol and crime Strong link between alcohol and crime, especially violent crime - 44% of violent crime linked to alcohol [1] - 40% of prisoners say they were drunk at the time of their offence [2] People in the justice system have a high prevalence of alcohol problems - 63% of those in prison had an Alcohol Use Disorder with 31% possibly alcohol dependent [3] - of those who had been imprisoned in Scotland, the risk of death from alcohol causes was 3 times higher compared to the general population [4] - not all alcohol problems linked to offending - increased prevalence of those with FASD [5] - often present with other morbidities such as drug use and mental health problems
Falling into the sea So, we pluck them out the sea, we dry them off, we dress them warmly, we give them a nice meal, and then we throw them back in. Many in the justice system are from disadvantaged areas - in 2021/22, 33% of those in prison in Scotland are from the 10% most deprived postcodes [1] Many have had challenging life experiences. Of those in prison, - 25% had been in care at some point [2] - 47% had experienced physical abuse [2] - 40% had witnessed domestic violence [2] Experience of the justice system can compound poor health and wellbeing - those in prison have significantly poorer wellbeing than those in the general population particularly for those on remand and those with multiple prison episodes [3]
Rationale The justice setting provides the opportunity to recognise alcohol problems and provide access to treatment to - reduce health inequalities - reduce offending - increase community benefit Willingness to engage - 41% of those in prison said they would take help for their alcohol problems if offered [1]
Average Daily Prison Population in Scotland 2014/15-2021/22 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 Number 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20 20/21 21/22 Year
Admissions to police custody in Scotland 2016/17- 2020/21 Police Custody Receptions 160000 140000 120000 100000 Number 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20 20/21 Year
SHAAP scoping consultees Glasgow alcohol court Community Justice Scotland Scottish Prison Service Scottish Government Police and prison care networks Public Health Scotland Academics Figure 8
Research, policy and guidance Alcohol Framework 2009 Alcohol and offending research programme (including a prison health needs assessment on alcohol in 2011) Substance misuse guidance for both prison (2016) and police custody (2017) Rights, Respect and Recovery (2018) Prison substance misuse needs assessment (2022)
Community Payback Orders with an Alcohol Treatment Requirement (2017-2022) 2017/18 193 2018/19 195 2019/20 200 2020/21 93 2021/22 134 Community Payback Order with alcohol treatment requirement 17,879 16,472 16,813 8,170 12,150 Total number of Community Payback Orders
Alcohol Brief Interventions in Justice Settings (2017/18-2019/20) Alcohol brief interventions 3500 3000 2500 2000 Number 1500 1000 500 0 17/18 18/19 19/20 Year Police custody Prison
ABI reach in justice settings (2019/20) Prison 10,954 unique individuals. Assuming 63% have an AUD then 6,901 potential receivers of an ABI. Actual delivery was 1,985 (29%) Police Custody 115,126 receptions. Assuming 63% have an AUD then 72,529 potential receivers of an ABI. Actual delivery was 2,373 (3%)
Referrals to drug and alcohol specialist treatment in Scottish prisons (2017/18 2021/22) Drug and alcohol treatment referrals 6000 5000 4000 Number 3000 2000 1000 0 17/18 18/19 19/20 20/21 21/22 Year alcohol/co-dependency drugs all
Referral to alcohol specialist treatment in justice settings (2019/20) Prison 10,954 unique individuals. Assuming 31% have alcohol dependency then 3,396 potential possible referrals. Actual referral number was 604 (18%) Police Custody 115,126 receptions. NO PUBLISHED REFERRAL DATA
Narrowing The Treatment Gap What are the barriers? What are the available levers? Where does governance and accountability sit? What can we here today do?
Thank you Dr Lesley Graham
