Estimates of Drug Use in Intensive Supervision Probationers: Results From a Pilot Study

Arrestees in Manhattan Central Booking detected as drug users at arrest and later assigned to probation had more postsentence arrests than had nonusers. Therefore, a urine specimen obtained from a probationer would serve as an excellent indicator of drug use and criminal behavior while on probation. Intensive supervision program parolees who met each week with their officers were asked to participate voluntarily in a computerized interview and to give a urine specimen. Urine specimens were not identified with the probationers' names. Results indicate that more than two-thirds of the intensive supervision program parolees are now using illicit drugs; this estimate is low because those who never reported regularly never gave samples. It is recommended that the provision of a urine specimen be made mandatory. References.