PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Prosecutorial use of drug-induced homicide (DIH) laws varies, and their public health impacts are poorly understood. This mixed-methods study explores associations between the number of DIH charges filed in North Carolina\'s 42 prosecutorial districts and district-level characteristics. Further, it documents the experience and views of North Carolina prosecutors on DIH cases.
METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, exploratory analysis of DIH enforcement by prosecutorial district in North Carolina to assess associations between overdose deaths, number of prosecutors employed, and rurality of the district. We also sent a survey to all N.C. prosecutors requesting that they detail their experience with and views on DIH prosecutions.
RESULTS: We found no association between overdose deaths or the number of prosecutors and DIH charges within a district. Survey data suggests that perceived justice for the deceased and perceived imperatives to \"do something\" about overdose influence prosecutorial use of DIH charges. Prosecutors generally appeared to agree that DIH cases had the potential to reduce substance use and/or drug dealing and/or fentanyl dealing and/or drug overdose in their districts, though how DIH cases would produce those effects was not clarified. Many prosecutors framed people who use drugs as helpless victims and forged categorical distinctions between (1) people who use drugs and sell drugs to support their addiction and (2) people who use drugs and sell drugs and are motivated by profit. Several prosecutors suggested that charging one person with homicide for another person\'s consensual acts may not appear logical to all jurors.
CONCLUSIONS: DIH prosecutions do not appear to be predicted by district characteristics commonly believed to shape prosecutorial action. Many prosecutors endorsed claims about the community-level impacts of DIH prosecutions that are unproven and generally contradict the available evidence. More research on the implementation and community-level outcomes of DIH prosecutions is needed.
METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, exploratory analysis of DIH enforcement by prosecutorial district in North Carolina to assess associations between overdose deaths, number of prosecutors employed, and rurality of the district. We also sent a survey to all N.C. prosecutors requesting that they detail their experience with and views on DIH prosecutions.
RESULTS: We found no association between overdose deaths or the number of prosecutors and DIH charges within a district. Survey data suggests that perceived justice for the deceased and perceived imperatives to \"do something\" about overdose influence prosecutorial use of DIH charges. Prosecutors generally appeared to agree that DIH cases had the potential to reduce substance use and/or drug dealing and/or fentanyl dealing and/or drug overdose in their districts, though how DIH cases would produce those effects was not clarified. Many prosecutors framed people who use drugs as helpless victims and forged categorical distinctions between (1) people who use drugs and sell drugs to support their addiction and (2) people who use drugs and sell drugs and are motivated by profit. Several prosecutors suggested that charging one person with homicide for another person\'s consensual acts may not appear logical to all jurors.
CONCLUSIONS: DIH prosecutions do not appear to be predicted by district characteristics commonly believed to shape prosecutorial action. Many prosecutors endorsed claims about the community-level impacts of DIH prosecutions that are unproven and generally contradict the available evidence. More research on the implementation and community-level outcomes of DIH prosecutions is needed.
摘要：
背景：毒品诱发杀人罪（DIH）法律的检察官使用各不相同，他们对公众健康的影响知之甚少。这项混合方法研究探讨了北卡罗来纳州42个检察区提起的DIH指控数量与区级特征之间的关联。Further,它记录了北卡罗来纳州检察官对DIH案件的经验和观点。
方法：我们进行了描述性的，北卡罗来纳州检察区对DIH执行的探索性分析，以评估过量死亡之间的关联，雇用的检察官人数，和地区的乡村。我们还向所有北卡罗来纳州检察官发送了一份调查，要求他们详细说明他们对DIH起诉的经验和看法。
结果：我们发现一个地区内过量死亡或检察官人数与DIH指控之间没有关联。调查数据表明，对死者的公正性和对过量服用“做某事”的必要性会影响检察官对DIH指控的使用。检察官似乎普遍同意，DIH案件有可能减少其所在地区的药物使用和/或毒品交易和/或芬太尼交易和/或药物过量，尽管DIH病例将如何产生这些影响尚不清楚。许多检察官将使用毒品的人陷害为无助的受害者，并在（1）使用毒品和出售毒品以支持其成瘾的人与（2）使用毒品和出售毒品并以利润为动机的人之间进行了区分。几位检察官建议，对一个人的合意行为指控一个人杀人可能并不符合所有陪审员的逻辑。
结论：DIH起诉似乎不能由通常被认为影响起诉行动的地区特征来预测。许多检察官赞同关于DIH起诉对社区一级影响的主张，这些主张未经证实，通常与现有证据相矛盾。需要对DIH起诉的实施和社区一级的结果进行更多研究。
方法：我们进行了描述性的，北卡罗来纳州检察区对DIH执行的探索性分析，以评估过量死亡之间的关联，雇用的检察官人数，和地区的乡村。我们还向所有北卡罗来纳州检察官发送了一份调查，要求他们详细说明他们对DIH起诉的经验和看法。
结果：我们发现一个地区内过量死亡或检察官人数与DIH指控之间没有关联。调查数据表明，对死者的公正性和对过量服用“做某事”的必要性会影响检察官对DIH指控的使用。检察官似乎普遍同意，DIH案件有可能减少其所在地区的药物使用和/或毒品交易和/或芬太尼交易和/或药物过量，尽管DIH病例将如何产生这些影响尚不清楚。许多检察官将使用毒品的人陷害为无助的受害者，并在（1）使用毒品和出售毒品以支持其成瘾的人与（2）使用毒品和出售毒品并以利润为动机的人之间进行了区分。几位检察官建议，对一个人的合意行为指控一个人杀人可能并不符合所有陪审员的逻辑。
结论：DIH起诉似乎不能由通常被认为影响起诉行动的地区特征来预测。许多检察官赞同关于DIH起诉对社区一级影响的主张，这些主张未经证实，通常与现有证据相矛盾。需要对DIH起诉的实施和社区一级的结果进行更多研究。
