ERIC Number: EJ798038
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0011-1287
EISSN: N/A
Trends of Criminal Activity and Substance Use in a Sample of Welfare Recipients
Brown, Victoria L.; Montoya, Isaac D.; Dayton-Shotts, Cheryl A.; Carroll-Curtis, Tiffany L.; Riley, Micah A.
Crime & Delinquency, v50 n1 p6-23 2004
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 instituted a compulsory work mandate for welfare recipients. However, recipients who experience difficulties finding employment may increase their involvement in criminal activities and their frequency of substance use as a means to deal with changes precipitated by PRWORA. This study used a four-wave panel design to analyze the criminal behaviors and substance-use frequency of 534 welfare recipients in Houston, Texas. Data were collected from the Attitudes, Behaviors, and Skills Assessment (ABSA) instrument designed specifically for this study. Results show that a minority of welfare recipients were involved in criminal activity. Furthermore, although participants were losing their welfare benefits, both criminal activity and substance use declined over time. (Contains 1 figure and 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Crime, Criminals, Welfare Recipients, Welfare Services, Substance Abuse, Unemployment, Federal Legislation, Measures (Individuals)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A