Citation

Brown VL, Montoya ID, Dayton-Shotts CA, Carroll-Curtis TL, Riley MA. Crime Delinq. 2004; 50(1): 6-23.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 instituted a compulsory work mandate for welfare recipients. However, recipients who experience difficulties finding employment may increase their involvement in criminal activities and their frequency of substance use as a means to deal with changes precipitated by PRWORA. This study used a four-wave panel design to analyze the criminal behaviors and substance-use frequency of 534 welfare recipients in Houston, Texas. Data were collected from the Attitudes, Behaviors, and Skills Assessment (ABSA) instrument designed specifically for this study. Results show that a minority of welfare recipients were involved in criminal activity. Furthermore, although participants were losing their welfare benefits, both criminal activity and substance use declined over time. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Crime and Delinquency, 2004. Copyright © 2004 by SAGE Publications)

1990s
Welfare Assistance
Welfare Reform
Welfare System
Employment Factors
Unemployment Factors
Crime Causes
Adult Crime
Adult Offender
Adult Substance Use
Substance Use Causes
Texas
04-04