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Problem Drug Use and Probation in London: An Evaluation

NCJ Number
186788
Journal
Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2000 Pages: 367-380
Author(s)
Ian Hearnden
Date Published
November 2000
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study evaluates problem drug use and probation in London.
Abstract
The study involved interviews with 278 drug-misusing offenders and 15 main grade probation officers. All the offenders were supervised by the Inner London Probation Service and had been sentenced to either a probation or a combination order. Probationers were asked about their drug use, weekly spend, and methods of raising this money, both prior to arrest and before interview; their views on the role of probation in reducing drug use; and their opinions on which types of intervention worked best. There were large reductions in drug use and crime, especially for those whose probation order included a condition of treatment. There was also strong evidence of effective working partnerships between the probation service and the specialist drug services which helped bring about those reductions. The majority of probationers spoke positively of the assistance offered by their supervising officer. However, a high proportion also felt that probation officers would benefit from increased drug awareness and training, a view shared by most of the probation officers interviewed. Implications of the study for probation work with drug-related offending include treatment in a criminal justice setting, enforcement of probation conditions, and partnership work. Figure, tables, notes, references