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Linkages between Drugs and Crime Among Inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison, grenada , 2010. Presented by: Dr. Wendy Crawford- Daniel & Jicinta M. Alexis. Acknowledgements.
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Linkages between Drugs and Crime Among Inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison,grenada, 2010 Presented by: Dr. Wendy Crawford- Daniel & Jicinta M. Alexis
Acknowledgements This project was made possible with funding from the Canadian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; the support of Her Majesty’s Prison Richmond Hill, Grenada, who facilitated the interview sessions and provided the necessary logistical support; and the voluntary participation of the prisoners in the exercise. The General Secretariat of the Organization of the American States (GS/OAS) through the Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) commissioned this study.
BACKGROUND The target population was the prisoner population of Her Majesty’s Prison, Richmond Hill, Grenada, who consisted of convicted and remand prisoners. The size and population of the Richmond Hill prison was excellent for a pilot study with a prison population of 407. From the prison population, a random sample of 25% was selected. Data collection was undertaken during the period of June 2010 – July 2010. The sample size was 104 respondents, 72 convicted and 32 remand prisoners, who resided at the Richmond Hill Prison in Grenada.
AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of the study was to: • To determine the relationship between drugs and crime • To identify the needs for treatment and rehabilitation • To provide policy makers with information to assist them in making decisions
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY • ID Socio-Demographic Profile of Prisoners • ID Types of Crime linked to Drug Use • Analyze Link between Drug & Crime • Determine Impact of Drug Use on Prisoner and Family
Sociodemographics Cont’d Type of Drugs Used by Respondents
Sociodemographics Cont’d • 67% - Use Drugs in Prison – Yes • 10% - Drug Use Initiated in Prison – Yes • 6% - Age Drug Use Initiated in Prison – {30 – 45 years} • 31% - Drug Use Change in Prison – Yes • 20% - Drug Use Reinitiated in Prison - Yes
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS • Life time consumption :– Marijuana (76%), Tobacco (67%), Alcohol (51%) • Marijuana & Tobacco Use:- Prevalent: 30 -45 year age group • Alcohol Use:- Prevalent: 18 – 29 year age group • 47% prisoners initiated criminal behaviour:- 18 – 29 year age group • Drug Usage in Prison:- 67% prisoners
Summary of Findings cont’d • Respondents’ age of first drug use:- <18 years – Marijuana (57%), Tobacco (38%) Alcohol (31%) • Drug use in Prison (Past year prevalence) among convicted prisoners:- Marijuana (58%), Tobacco (53%), Alcohol (31%) • There was no heroin, inhalants, and prescription drug abuse in prison • Ease of acquiring drugs in prison:- 40% Yes • Difficulty of acquiring drugs in prison:- 27% Yes
Summary of Findings cont’d Current Offences Previous Offences Stealing Physical Assault Sexual Assault • Stealing • Robbery • Physical Assault
Summary of Findings cont’d First-time Offenders Repeat Offenders 51% prisoners 33% offences committed under the influence of drugs • 49% prisoners • 25% offences committed under the influence of drugs
Summary of Findings cont’d • 25% Offences committed occurred under the influence of drugs: • Alcohol influence (13%) • Marijuana Influence (6%) • Cocaine (4%) • Crack (2%) • Drug with the highest intoxication that resulted in crime was Alcohol
Summary of Findings cont’d • Crimes which were committed most under drug influence:- • Sexual Assault • Physical Assault • Malicious Damage • Crime which was least committed under drug influence:- Capital Crime • All of the crimes committed by unemployed respondents were drug related
Summary of Findings cont’d • There was no compelling evidence that imprisonment increased drug use – 10% initiated drug use in prison • 20% relapsed into drug use in prison • Convicted prisoners with primary school level education committed drug related crimes more often than those with secondary school level education
