Correctional Views on Alcohol,Alcoholism,and Crime

Abstract

Aside from a few notable exceptions, the "revolving door jails" to which most alcoholic offenders are sent in the United States are a national disgrace. Among their many shortcomings is the almost complete absence of treatment programs for the problem drinker. Moreover, many alcoholics convicted of felonies and sent to state and federal prisons are not easily identifiable as problem drinkers and so do not receive adequate treatment. Until the end of the 1930's, when Alcoholics Anonymous had fully demonstrated its worth, no effective treatment programs for alcoholics were known and available to correctional admin istrators. Today, A.A. has over 400 groups in American prisons and jails, where it has had significant success. Its program has also proved markedly effective with probationers and parolees. This success and our increased understanding of the alcoholic offender offer hope that we may find effective ways of prevent ing, as well as treating, alcoholism and crime when they occur together.