NCJ Number
162743
Date Published
1995
Length
98 pages
Annotation
This study examined the degree to which first offender drinking-driver programs in California reduced drunk-driving recidivism relative to other sanctions such as driver license suspension.
Abstract
In California there are three types of drunk driver programs. First-offender programs, which are typically 3 months long, are prescribed for those just entering the criminal justice system with their first drunk-driving conviction. For second and third-plus offenders, there are 18 month SB 38 programs, and for third-plus offenders living in Los Angeles or San Bernardino counties, 30-month alcohol treatment programs are available. Study subjects were selected from the Department of Motor Vehicle driver record database and also, for third-plus offenders, from records kept by the Los Angeles County Office of Alcohol Programs. Demographic, prior driving history, and subsequent drunk-driving conviction information on subjects was obtained from the DMV database. The study limited the evaluation to subsequent drunk-driving convictions. The primary evaluation question examined the relationships between the various sanctions offenders received and subsequent drunk-driving convictions. The evaluation approach was to sample offenders from each sanction group and then compare subsequent drunk-driving convictions among the groups. The analysis showed that there were significant differences in subsequent alcohol convictions among at least some of the six first-offender sanction groups. The offenders sentenced only to jail had the highest drunk-driving recidivism rate, and this was significantly higher than that of all other groups. The lowest rate of subsequent drunk-driving convictions was accrued by offenders sentenced to a first-offender alcohol program plus license restriction. 19 tables, 6 figures, and 45 references