Transcript Solutions to the Problem Gambling and Crime Connection

Solutions to the Problem
Gambling and Crime
Connection
Henry R. Lesieur, Ph.D.
Brown University and Rhode Island
Hospital
Crime Rates Among
Pathological Gamblers

GA & treatment Studies -- 50-67%
 Helpline Study of Problem Gamblers -20% admitted crime and 11.5% arrested
 NORC study -- general population -32% of PGs arrested for any crime
Prevalence of Offenses -German Study -- Percent
100
89
80
60
59
52
PG
Non-PG
35
40
28
22
20
6
3
0
LT Crime
PY Crime
Arrest
Meyer & Stadler, 1999
Conviction
Crime Types Among
Pathological Gamblers

Forgery, Fraud, Theft, Embezzlement
 Tax violations (fraud & evasion)
 Illegal Gambling operation
 Less common: Burglary, Armed robbery,
Drug Sales, Fencing Stolen Goods,
Prostitution, Extortion
Psychologist as Expert
Witness

Reviews Materials from Court
 Interviews Offender and others
 Evaluates Mental Status
 Evaluates for Mental Disorders
 Conducts Psychological Tests
 Writes Report
Psychologist as Expert
Witness - 2

Examines issues not covered by presentence investigation
 -- Emotional Issues
 -- Family Dysfunction
 -- Co-occurring Disorders
 -- Coping Skills
Psychologist as Expert
Witness - 3

Examines work history (positives as well
as negatives)
 Social supports
 Gambling Progression
 Cognitive Distortions
 Personality Disorder (especially ASPD)
Action/Escape
Phase

ACTION -- become involved; good at it;
exciting; early success; bolster self-esteem
by gambling; wins=internally produced;
losses=externally produced
 ESCAPE -- gambling to escape from
problems, loneliness, depression, anxiety,
trauma; gambling = time out, time away
from problems
Losing/Chasing
Phase

ACTION gambler finds losing
intolerable; CHASE after bad beats &
serious losses
 ESCAPE gambler finds “time out” is
expensive
 BOTH use up options for obtaining
money as their involvement increases
 New Money = Big Win
Cycles in the Spiral of
Options and Involvement
1. Get Money
2. “Moving,” “Manipulating,”
or “Juggling” Money
3. Tightening of Resources
(Closure) and Need to
Make Moral Decision
Desperation
Phase

Job & Family Disaster Areas
 Illegal Activities (CG Spiral)
 Obsession with Getting Out of Trouble
Overtakes Excitement
 Escapes into Gambling Yet No Relief
 Serious bouts with Depression
 Suicide Attempts
Hopeless
Phase

Getting Even Not
Possible
 No Longer Care
 Know They Will Lose
 Continual State of Depression
 Playing for Action is All That Matters
Considerations Before
Turning To Crime
1. Opportunity
2. External Agents of Social Control
(Police, Family)
3. Beliefs & Justifications
4. Closing of Available Options
5. Threat (to self-esteem, financial threat,
Physical threat)
CRIME AND
STRESS

Stress of Gambling
 Stress of Financial Pressures
 Stress of Impact on Family
 Work-related Stress

Produce: Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive
Distortions that Impair Judgment and
Decision-Making
Moral Justifications and
Illegal Activity
Actions
Perceived
Morality
Justifications
Hustle pool;
Bookmaker;
Petty larceny
Forge Checks;
Assist in
Burglary
Robbery
Totally moral
Belief or
Situation
Partially
Immoral
Partial
Justification/
Excuse
Excuses only
Immoral
Social Attachment
(Meyer & Stadler)

Change in Living Condition
 Relationship to Parents
 Parental Education Methods
 Emotional & Social Attachment
 Involvement in Conventional Activities
 Belief in Social Rules
Addiction Pressures
for Crime
(Meyer & Stadler)

Severity of Pathological Gambling
 Cravings to Gamble
 Duration of Gambling
 Debt & Income/Loss Ratio
 Emotional & Family Problems
 Type and Frequency of Gambling
Personality and Crime
(Meyer & Stadler)

Aggressiveness
 Extroversion
 Impulsivity; Risk-Motivation
 Antisocial Personality
 Frankness; Emotionality
 Global Mental Status
Crime: Meyer &
Stadler
Social Attachment
.04
.25
.63
.48
Addiction
.52
.33
Personality
Criminal Behavior
The Five “R”s





Remorse – evidence of feelings
Repentance – evidence of lifestyle changes.
What is different? Job situation, marriage, etc.
Restitution plan. Is it realistic?
Recovery – treatment plan for recovery. Give
details and dates. Evidence of compliance
Rehabilitation – evidence of change in attitude.
Volunteer work, community service, spiritual life
style change
US Courts &
Pathological Gambling

Insanity Defense Argued in 1980s (PG
does not apply)
 Federal Sentencing Guidelines
 Diminished Capacity and Downward
Departure
 “Significantly Reduced Mental Capacity”
Minnesota Rule 82
Pathological Gambling

Offenders Convicted of Felony Theft,
Embezzlement & Forgery
 PO Screens using SOGS
 17% SOGS 5+
 Sent for Gambling Assessment
Conditions of
Probation for
Pathological Gamblers

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
Abstinence from Gambling
Attendance at GA
Community Service
Gambling Counseling
Restitution Orders
How about Exclusion?
Gambling Court

Modeled after Drug Courts
 Buffalo, New York
 26th Judicial Court in Louisiana
 Proposed in Florida
Gambling Court - 2

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Eligibility Criteria
Pathological Gamblers
First Offenders
Non-violent
No drug dealers
No sex offenders
Gambling Court - 5
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Recommendations possible depend on what
treatment is available
Inpatient treatment (Louisiana only)
Intensive Outpatient day treatment
Halfway House
Outpatient treatment
Gamblers Anonymous
Gambling Court - 8

No Evaluations of gambling courts
conducted to date
 Drug Courts show 45-50% graduation
rates
 Drug Courts show reduced recidivism in
two-thirds of the courts evaluated
Pathological Gambling
among Prisoners

Conducted a Meta-analysis of 10 Studies
 19.6% of prisoners level 3 gamblers
(probable PGs)
 Gamblers higher criminality
 Higher rate of psychopathy
 Higher rate of Depression
 Higher Rate of SUD
Gambling in Prisons

Play Cards for Cigarettes
 Bet on Horses with prison bookies
 Sports Betting
 -- Sell drugs to pay for gambling
 -- Bet with $$ on outside
 -- Get into Fights
 -- Provide services to pay gambling
Recommendations for
CJS and Pathological
Gambling
1. Educate & train CJS personnel
2. Explore Gambling Courts
3. Evaluate and Assess Offenders
on Pre-trial basis
4. GA meetings in Prisons
5. PG Treatment with trained counselors
6. Community Service by ex-prisoners at prison
GA meetings