.ISTARTMIS-------------------------

.I NAME: 432.RPT

.I COMP: 3/5/97

.I REVW: LOH000

.I PAGES: 3

.I TITLE: DRUG FELONY CONVICTIONS FOR FEMALES

.I NOTES: LC

.I REPLACE:

March 5, 1997 97-R-0432

TO:

FROM: George Coppolo, Chief Attorney

You asked for information concerning the number of females convicted of drug felonies.

We were unable to determine the number of females convicted of drug felonies. The Judicial Department keeps statistics by charge, not by person. Thus, Judicial Department statistics show the number of drug charges disposed of by statutory offense, sex, and age but do not show the number of people who were convicted.

There is an additional problem with the Judicial Department statistics. All the drug offenses reported in these statistics are felonies except CGS § 21a-279(c). This statute prohibits the possession of less than four ounces of marijuana or possession of a nonnarcotic or nonhallucinogenic controlled substance. A first offense is a misdemeanor but a subsequent offense is a felony. Unfortunately, the statistics do not distinguish between a first and subsequent offense. Thus, it is not possible to know what portion of the charges disposed of for violating CGS § 21a-279(c) were for misdemeanors (first offense) and what portion were for felonies (subsequent offenses).

Table 1 shows the drug offenses by females and by age category disposed of by the court system for FYs 1991-1995. Next to the total number for each year in parenthesis are the number of charges disposed of under CGS § 21a-279(c). Thus, the total number of charges represents the total felony counts minus all or some portion of the number in parenthesis. For example, during 1995, 5,911 drug offenses by females were disposed of by the courts. Since 967 were CGS § 21a-279(c) charges, the actual number of drug felony charges disposed of could be as much as 967 fewer.

Source: Connecticut Judicial Branch, Court Operations Division

The Department of Correction (DOC) was able to provide us with information concerning the number of females incarcerated for drug offenses from 1990 to the present. But just as in the case of Judicial Department statistics, the DOC statistics do not provide us with exactly what we are looking for. Instead of showing the number of females incarcerated for drug offenses during a particular year, they show us the number incarcerated as of a certain date (December 31st) in each year from 1990 through 1996.

Also, these statistics have the same problem as the Judicial Department’s. All the offenses are felonies except CGS § 21a-279(c) and the statistics do not distinguish between a first and subsequent offense. Thus, some of the females might have been incarcerated for a first offense. Just as in with Judicial Department statistics, we have put the number of CGS § 21a-279(c) offenses in parenthesis so you can see what portion of the total might be for misdemeanors.

Source: Department of Correction, Andy Shook

GC:lc