Inmate-alcohol crime link rises

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8474306.stm

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Half of all inmates in Scotland's prisons said they were drunk at the time of their offence, a survey by the Scottish Prison Service has revealed.

This has risen from four in 10 when the same question was asked in 2005.

The survey reported a decline in the numbers who had ever used illegal drugs in prison, down from 58% in 2001 to 45% last year.

The confidential questionnaire focused on prison life, living conditions, family contact and healthcare.

The SPS said 62% of inmates responded to the questionnaire.

Other findings included 43% of respondents admitting to having an eye-opener drink first thing in the morning, up from 31% in 2005.

Some 42% of prisoners thought they needed to cut down on their alcohol intake, while 37% said they felt guilty about their drinking, a rise from 29% in 2005.

Inmates who admitted illegal drug use during the last month of their sentence fell from 38% in 2001 to 22% in 2009.