Drug using offenders in south London. Trends and outcomes

In 1993, the Home Office Drugs Prevention Initiative commissioned a study in Southwark, London of 112 drug misusing offenders referred by probation for treatment. There was a high incidence of relapse. After specialist intervention, 63% were identified as having reoffended, although the proportion of burglaries and violence was reduced. Discriminant Function analysis was used to assess whether contact with the probation service and a drug advice centre were significant determinants of preventing reoffending. Better rates of attendance with such agencies did reduce reconviction rates. Over half of the sample had used cocaine or crack. The comparatively high incidence of violent offences (17%) was related to the misuse of nonopiates. Conversely, sole use of opiates was a reliable predictor of nonviolence. Abstinence was only achieved by a small minority (5%). Over half of those assessed for intervention in the sample had recently appeared at Crown Court (higher level courts) with 75% having been sentenced to custody previously, this showed that the cohort was of relatively serious offenders.