Supervised consumption sites and crime: scrutinizing the methodological weaknesses and aberrant results of a government report in Alberta, Canada

Abstract To date, peer-reviewed research has found no evidence linking supervised consumptions sites (SCSs) to increased crime. Yet, in March 2020, a government Report released in the province of Alberta, Canada, presented the results of a review that reached a different conclusion. This commentary...

Cur síos iomlán

Sonraí bibleagrafaíochta
Príomhchruthaitheoir: James D. Livingston
Formáid: Alt
Teanga:English
Foilsithe / Cruthaithe: BMC 2021-01-01
Sraith:Harm Reduction Journal
Ábhair:
Rochtain ar líne:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-020-00456-2
Cur síos
Achoimre:Abstract To date, peer-reviewed research has found no evidence linking supervised consumptions sites (SCSs) to increased crime. Yet, in March 2020, a government Report released in the province of Alberta, Canada, presented the results of a review that reached a different conclusion. This commentary highlights the Report’s major methodological limitations with respect to its criminological components, including that crime was poorly operationalized and measured, change in crime was inadequately assessed, and the effect of SCSs on crime was not ascertained. It is argued that the magnitude of methodological flaws in the Report undermine the validity of its criminological claims and raise significant issues with the soundness of its conclusions.
ISSN:1477-7517