The Relationship Between Alcohol and Crime

Alcohol is often seen as a mostly harmless part of everyday life. People drink in order to relax and unwind. However, there is a much darker side to alcohol use. The reality is that alcohol and crime go hand in hand. In fact, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, alcohol is a contributing factor in 40% of all violent crimes.

There are a number of crimes which are often related to alcohol use. These crimes can be categorized as violent or non-violent.

Violent crime is defined as a criminal offense that involves force or the threat of force against an individual. Violent crimes which are often related to alcohol use include:

• Assault: Alcohol is known to impair judgement and increase aggression. Due to this, alcohol is often a factor in cases of assault. When alcohol is involved, a situation that normally would have been a simple disagreement can quickly become a physical altercation. 

• Domestic Violence: In relationships, either familial or romantic, when a person is abusing alcohol, it can often lead to disagreements and arguments. With the heightened aggression from alcohol use, these altercations can often turn violent.

• Homicide: According to the U.S. Department of Justice, alcohol is a factor in 40% of homicides. Like assault, this is likely due to the impaired judgement and increased aggression caused by alcohol use.

• Robbery: Alcohol is usually only a factor in robberies when a person is deep in the throes of alcohol addiction. When people reach this stage, a lack of alcohol will cause painful and possible fatal withdrawal symptoms. The threat of this can cause alcohol addicts to commit robbery in order to afford alcohol.

The above crimes are extremely serious and can result in years of jail time. They are perfect examples of how alcohol can destroy lives.

Not all alcohol related crimes are violent, but that does not mean they don’t have serious repercussions. Non-violent crimes associated with alcohol use include:

• Driving Under the Influence: This might be the most obvious of the crimes that are associated with alcohol. Driving under the influence can lead to injury or death, not just for the person driving, but also for passengers and other drivers on the road. 

• Public Intoxication: This is a criminal offense that occurs when a person is visibly under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances in a public place. People are usually only arrested for this when they are acting belligerently or causing a disturbance.

• Property Damage: The impaired judgement caused by alcohol use can cause people to act recklessly, often leading to the destruction of property.

While these may not seem as serious as the violent crimes previously listed, they are still criminal offenses. When people engage in these crimes, it is harmful to society as a whole.

The criminal justice system and alcohol addiction are deeply intertwined. The court sees thousands of cases per year where alcohol addiction is the catalyst for the crime that was committed. Without treatment, alcohol addicts have an extremely high rate of recidivism, meaning that they are likely to commit another crime in the future. Courts are recognizing this more often and trying to get offenders the help they need. This can take the form of the court offering the offender the option of attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, or attending rehab rather than serving jail time. 

As mentioned, when the court offers treatment instead of punishment, the rate of recidivism among alcohol addicts plummets. This decreases the future burden on the court system by lowering case load and court costs. It is obvious that when the court focuses on treating addiction rather than punishing it, everyone wins.

There is no doubt that binge drinking increases the risk of crime. Alcohol completely changes the way a person thinks and acts. It impairs judgment and increases aggression. This shift in thought process and perception greatly increases the chances of a crime taking place, especially a violent one.

It should also be mentioned that binge drinking not only increases the chances of the drinker committing a crime, but also their chances of being a victim of one. Criminals look for easy targets and see someone who is intoxicated as the perfect prey. When binge drinking, your chances of being assaulted or robbed increase astronomically.

So, if someone you know is dealing with alcohol addiction, how can you help lower the chances that they are involved in a crime? Well, the only sure-fire to accomplish this is to treat their addiction to alcohol. The best ways to do this are:

• Host an Intervention: This is a planned process where loved ones confront an individual struggling with alcohol addiction. It is only the first step in getting them treatment, but it can be life-saving.

• Inpatient Addiction Treatment: The patient receives treatment, such as therapy, while living at the treatment center. This allows them to fully focus on recovery.

• Outpatient Addiction Treatment: The patient receives the same therapy and other treatment as they would in an inpatient program. However, they live at home and are able to continue working and keeping up with other life responsibilities. 

Recovering from alcohol addiction can be a long and difficult process. However, the reward at the end, living a happy, healthy  and fulfilling life, is well worth it.