Drug use, crime and the attitudes of magistrates

In a study concerned with the views of magistrates' on crime related to drug use, a 27-item attitudinal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 154 subjects drawn from all magistrates in the London area. The response rate was 72%. There was broad agreement on the seriousness of crime related to drug use but there were also interesting differences of opinion. A principal components analysis revealed three factors which accounted for 67% of the variance. Factor 1, labelled 'seriousness' relates to the attitude that the extent of drug use and drug-related crimes such as possession, are serious offences. Factor 2, labelled 'intervention', reflects the view that sentencing and treatment are valuable in dealing with drug-related crime. Factor 3, labelled 'responsibility' describes the attitude that drug users are responsible for their offences and for the contents of statements made when withdrawing from drugs. There were differences between the magistrates on items concerning cannabis, personal responsibility for drug-related crime and the value of sentencing options. Magistrates tended to value psychiatric court-reports but some found them unclearly worded and partial to the defendant. Implications for the legal and medical response to drug use and crime are discussed.