Crime among homeless military veterans who abuse substances

This was a study of crime among 188 homeless persons who were in a Veterans' Affairs Medical Center program for substance abusers. The purpose of the study was to find out: (a) what proportion committed crimes, and (b) what other problems, relational factors, and personal attributes predict crime. Data indicate 27% of these homeless veterans committed nuisance offenses, and 41% have committed crimes in the past year. Logistic regression procedures indicated that alcohol and other drug abuse, less education, lack of employment, psychiatric problems, and living with a substance abuser increased the odds of committing crimes. This study also finds that physical and sexual abuse before 18 years of age increases the odds of committing crimes, whereas self-efficacy, ego integrity, and resilience decrease these odds. These latter factors have received scant attention in the literature on homeless substance abusers, and yet they are among the strongest predictors of crime. Implications for psychiatric rehabilitation are discussed.