DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES IN THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE EUROPEAN-UNION

With increased prisoner numbers, many European Union member states hav e begun to consider the possibility of drug demand reduction intervent ions within the criminal justice system. In this paper the results of a six month study of drug demand reduction activity within the crimina l justice system (CJS) of the member states of the European Union are presented. The extent of activity at the al rest stage varies widely b etween slates. The two most common objectives of interventions aimed a t drug using arrestees are to provide information and to encourage con tact with treatment services. The extent of activity at the court stag e was difficult to establish, however, in many countries legislation e xists which extends the possibility of drug treatment as an alternativ e to a legal sanction. There is a considerable and increasing range of interventions focused on drug users in prison. All countries provide some form of demand reduction activity within this context. Many respo ndents indicated a very low level of drug demand reduction activity ta rgeted at released prisoners. Despite the existence of many interventi ons, no member state has an extensive programme of demand reduction ac tivities at every stage of the criminal justice system. Further, activ ities are rarely available throughout all geographical areas of a coun try.