Drugs and crime

"The primary focus of this report is on the drug and alcohol use and criminal careers of 470 women who were incarcerated in prisons in six jurisdictions in Australia in 2003. Overall, these women tended to have extensive criminal histories and prior contacts with the criminal justice system. The majority also reported chronic and persistent drug use. A better understanding of patterns in offending and drug use, and the connection between the two, will assist in the development of interventions and crime prevention strategies for women."--Executive summary, p. xii.