NCJ Number
49625
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE FINDINGS OF THE YOCHELSON AND SAMENOW STUDY ON THE CRIMINAL PERSONALITY ARE BRIEFLY REVIEWED AND IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THERE IS A DRINKING-DRIVER PERSONALITY WITH DETECTABLE TRAITS HELPFUL FOR TREATMENT IF ISOLATED.
Abstract
COURTS AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS HAVE FOUND THAT A FIRST-TIME OFFENDER ARRESTED FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED MIGHT MORE ACCURATELY BE TERMED A 'FIRST-TIME APPREHENDED OFFENDER.' SUCH A POSITION BASED ON THE FINDINGS THAT, USUALLY, SUCH A PERSON WOULD HAVE BE INVOLVED IN MANY OTHER OCCASIONS INVOLVING DRIVING AFTER DRINKING. THIS FINDING HAS TWO POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DIVERSIONARY TREATMENT PROGRAM OF THE COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA. FIRST, THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE MANDATORY, NOT VOLUNTARY BECAUSE THOSE MOST LIKELY TO ASK FOR HELP ARE OFTEN THOSE LESS IN NEED. (IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE OFFENDERS PAY FOR THEIR TREATMENT RATHER THAN MAKE THE NONDRINKING PUBLIC RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE.) SECOND, THE REPEAT NATURE OF DRIVING WHILE DRINKING SUGGESTS THAT THERE MAY BE A DEFINITE DRINKING -DRIVER PERSONALITY JUST AS YOCHELSON AND SAMENOW FOUND CONSISTENT THINKING PATTERNS UNDERLYING HABITUAL CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE WORK OF YOCHELSON AND SAMENOW IS BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED. THEIR 16 1/2 YEAR RESEARCH STUDY AT ST. ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL, WASHINGTON, D.C., FOUND THAT 52 THINKING ERRORS CLEARLY SEPARATED THE HARD-CORE CRIMINAL FROM THE NONCRIMINAL. IF THERE IS A 'CRIMINAL PERSONALITY,' AND IF PROGRESS IN REHABILITATION FAILS UNTIL THE FACT OF THIS PERSONALITY IS RECOGNIZED, AS STATED IN THE ABOVE STUDY, THEN PERHAPS THERE IS ALSO AN 'ALCOHOLIC PERSONALITY.' THE ISOLATION OF THOSE FACTORS WHICH SEPARATE HARD-CORE DRINKERS FROM NONDRINKERS WILL HELP REHABILITATIVE ACTION. RESEARCH IS URGED. (GLR)