British Journal of Criminology Advance Access originally published online on October 30, 2006
British Journal of Criminology 2007 47(3):470-490; doi:10.1093/bjc/azl087
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The British Journal of Criminology 47:470-490 (2007)
© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (ISTD). All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Twisting Arms Or a Helping Hand?
Assessing the Impact of ‘Coerced’ and Comparable ‘Voluntary’ Drug Treatment Options
Tim McSweeney is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, School of Law, King's College London
Alex Stevens is a Senior Researcher at the European Institute of Social Services, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent
Neil Hunt is Director of Research for KCA; Honorary Senior Research Associate at the European Institute of Social Services, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent; Honorary Research Fellow with the Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behaviour, London; and Chair of the UK Harm Reduction Alliance
Paul J. Turnbull is Deputy Director at the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, School of Law, King's College London
* Correspondence to Tim McSweeney, Institute for Criminal Policy Research, School of Law, King's College London, 26–29 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5RL; tim.mcsweeney{at}kcl.ac.uk.
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Abstract |
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Despite the rapid expansion of options to coerce drug-dependent offenders into treatment—culminating recently in the provisions of the 2005 Drugs Act and the government's ‘Tough Choices’ agenda—research findings to date are equivocal about their impact in reducing crime. This paper presents UK findings from a pan-European study on this issue. The results—at both national and international levels—reveal that court-mandated clients reported significant and sustained reductions in illicit drug use and offending behaviours, and improvements in other areas of social functioning. Those entering the same treatment services through non-criminal justice routes also reported similar reductions and improvements. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of recent policy developments.
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