Drugs and Crime

Drugs are the common denominator for women and girls in the criminal justice system. Both those who are arrested and those who are imprisoned report high rates of alcohol and other drug use, regardless of their offense.(144)Women offenders often have multiple psychiatric problems as well as drug dependency. In Chicago, a study of pretrial female inmates in 1991-1993 found that three in four had serious alcohol and other drug problems while two in five had clinical depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress.(145)

Many women inmates also have histories of sexual or physical abuse. In Federal prisons, one-fifth of women convicted of property, public order or drug offenses have such a history.(146) The percentage of women offenders who have been physically or sexually abused is even higher among state prison inmates (56 percent of violent offenders; 37 percent of others).(147)

Drug Arrests: Arrests of girls and women for drug offenses (sale and/or possession) climbed 42 percent from 129,895 in 1991 to 184,058 in 1996. Arrests of male drug offenders also increased during that period, although at a slower rate (36 percent). A close examination of Uniform Crime Reports data on drug offenses among women (not regularly published but obtained by Drug Strategies for this report) reveals significant patterns of arrests:

• The largest increases were in arrests for drug possession, particularly marijuana. Total female arrests for marijuana possession more than doubled from 1991 to 1996, climbing from 21,481 to 51,587.(148) Although cocaine and opiate possession arrests in 1996 were more numerous (57,488) than those for marijuana, the rate of increase was much slower.(149) (See detailed data tables at end of report.)
  
• Arrests for drug sale/manufacturing decreased slightly (from 41,604 in 1991 to 40,642 in 1996).(150) Over half of these arrests were related to opium or cocaine.(151)
  
• Drug arrests of girls have climbed dramatically. In 1996, 19,940 girls were arrested for drug offenses, compared to 6,708 in 1991.(152) The great majority of these arrests were for possession.(153) Marijuana possession accounted for almost two-thirds of all drug arrests of girls in 1996.(154) Arrests for possession of heroin and/or cocaine increased 41 percent, while arrests for marijuana sales more than doubled.(155)
  
• Arrests for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) rose slightly for women, while decreasing substantially for men.(156) In 1988, women accounted for 155,473 DUI arrests, compared to 158,181 in 1996.(157)

Drug Use Among Arrestees: Drugs are as pervasive among women as among men in the criminal justice system. From 1990 to 1997, about two-thirds of both female and male arrestees tested positive for drugs, according to the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program.(158) ADAM (formerly known as Drug Use Forecasting) reports on arrestee drug tests in 23 cities; however, only 21 cities keep separate data for women. In 1997, Manhattan reported the highest percentage of positive tests for women­80.5 percent­compared to 37.6 percent in San Antonio, the lowest of the cities monitored.(159)

In the great majority of the 21 ADAM cities that collect data on women, cocaine/crack was by far the most frequently reported drug.(160) However, there were notable exceptions. In Omaha, for example, marijuana dominated the drug positives.(161) In San Diego and San Jose, "multiple drugs" were predominant, followed closely by methamphetamine.(162) Only in Portland and Manhattan did opiates, including heroin, account for 20 percent or more of the positive drug tests.(163) All cities showed a substantial percentage of "multiple drugs."(164)

Drug Use Widespread Regardless of Offense:Most women who are arrested use illegal drugs, regardless of the crime for which they are charged. The 1997 ADAM data show that the highest percentage of women who test positive for drugs are those arrested for prostitution while drug offenses are a close second.(165)

A U.S. Department of Justice study of state prisoners in 1991 (the latest data available) confirms that drug abuse is widespread among women offenders. And the rate of involvement is increasing. In 1986, fewer women inmates reported using drugs regularly before committing their offense than male inmates(166); however, by 1991, women surpassed men in drug use.(167) About one in four females (23.9 percent) said they committed their offense to get money to buy drugs, compared to 16.5 percent of male prisoners.(168) The same study showed a different picture with regard to alcohol. Women inmates were less likely than men to have been drinking at the time of their offense.(169)

In 1997, 79,600 women were serving sentences in Federal and state prisons, six times the number incarcerated in 1980.(170) This increase is due largely to drug offenses and to crimes which are often committed to support addiction, like theft and prostitution. In Federal prisons, more than two-thirds of the women inmates have been incarcerated for drug offenses.(171) Increased use of mandatory minimum sentencing laws and sentencing guidelines in Federal and state courts have contributed to these trends. Intensified enforcement efforts may also play a role in many communities.

In state prisons, one in three women inmates was serving time for drug offenses in 1991 (the most recent available data); an increaseof nearly 400 percent since 1986.(172) Women drug offenders are more likely than their male counterparts to be nonviolent with no criminal history or involvement in high-level trafficking. Many have been implicated in drug crimes through spouses or boyfriends. A 1995 study of state inmates by the University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) found that 40 percentof all low-level drug offenders nationwide are women.(173) Low-level drug offenders are more likely to have higher educational levels than other prisoners,and they are significantly less troublesome while in prison.(174)

Many women inmates in Federal prison are serving mandatory minimum sentences,which do not allow judges to consider individual circumstances, such as pregnancy or minor children at home. Twenty years ago, nearly two-thirds of women convicted of Federal felonies were placed on probation. But in 1991, only 28 percent were given straight probation. The majority of women inmates have children under age 18.(175)

While women offenders are incarcerated, their children are cared for by relatives or placed in foster care. The Department of Justice study of state prison inmates (1991) found that one in four of these children live with their fathers, while most are cared for by grandparents or other relatives.(176)Incarcerated mothers much prefer to have their children placed with family members, since they believe that relatives will encourage the children to visit and that they will have a better chance of getting their children back after their release.(177) Nonetheless, more than half the mothers never received visits by their minor children, although most had telephone or mail contact.(178)

Related Data Tables   |   Next Section

Keeping Score 1998
Introduction | Drug Use and Attitudes | Healthand Welfare |
Drugs and Crime | Lookingto the Future | Data Tables | Endnotes

Spotlight | Methadone Maintenance Treatment | Welfare Reform and Drug Abuse
Women and Drug Abuse: Court Innovations

Programs | Prevention Programs | Pregnant and Parenting Women's Programs
Family Treatment Programs| Criminal Justice Programs

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