Alcohol and Other Drug Use by People in State and Federal Prisons at the Times of Their Offenses

"ƒƒAmong state prisoners, about 3 in 10 whites (31%), blacks (30%), and Hispanics (33%) reported drinking alcohol at the time of the offense (table 4).

"ƒƒAn estimated 24% of state prisoners ages 18 to 24 reported drinking alcohol at the time of the offense, compared to 37% of those ages 45 to 54 and 55 to 64.

"ƒƒState prisoners sentenced for a violent (34%) offense were more likely to report drinking alcohol at the time of the offense than those sentenced for a property (24%) or drug (22%) offense.

"ƒƒHispanics in state (36%) and federal (20%) prison were less likely than whites in state (45%) and federal (40%) prison to report using at least one drug at the time of the offense.

"ƒƒState prisoners serving time for a drug (55%) or a property (49%) offense were more likely than those serving time for a violent offense (35%) to report using drugs at the time of the offense.

"ƒƒState prisoners serving time for a violent (35%) offense were less likely than those serving time for a drug (55%) or a property (49%) offense to report using drugs at the time of the offense.

"ƒƒTwenty-nine percent of females and 24% of males in federal prison reported drinking alcohol at the time of the offense (table 5).

"ƒƒAmong federal prisoners, an estimated 31% of whites, 28% of blacks, and 15% of Hispanics reported drinking alcohol at the time of the offense.

"ƒƒA quarter of federal prisoners sentenced for a violent (25%) or drug (26%) offense reported drinking alcohol at the time of the offense, compared to 4 in 10 sentenced for a property offense (41%).

"ƒƒThirty-seven percent of female and 31% of male federal prisoners reported using at least one drug at the time of the offense for which they were serving time.

"ƒƒFederal prisoners ages 18 to 24 (38%) were about four times as likely as prisoners age 65 or older (9%) to report using drugs at the time of the offense.

"ƒƒAbout 3 in 10 federal prisoners serving time for a violent offense (29%) reported using drugs at the time of the offense, compared to about 4 in 10 serving time for a drug offense (38%)."