Public Drunkenness in New South Wales: From Criminality to Welfare

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Abstract
This article examines a legislative attempt to decriminalize the offence of public drunkenness and to establish in its place a welfare scheme for the care of public drunks. This scheme was set up under the Intoxicated Persons Act 1979 in New South Wales, which came into effect in March 1980. The main focus of concern is the behaviour displayed by police and welfare agencies under this scheme, with a view to assessing whether the shift from a criminal to a welfare approach was in fact brought about. The research on which this material is based was carried out over a seven month period in 1981 and 1982 while employed as a researcher for a government Task Force monitoring the legislation. However, it should be stressed that the material and interpretations presented here are my own, and should in no way be taken as reflecting the views of that Task Force, the New South Wales government or any of its departments.

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