NCJ Number
67195
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED AT FIVE SITES WHERE RESEARCHERS BELIEVED THAT THE ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROJECT (ASAP) HAD INFLUENCED THE HANDLING OF DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) CASES BY THE COURTS.
Abstract
THE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES WERE DESIGNED TO KEEP INTOXICATED DRIVERS OFF THE ROAD, TO FURTHER THEIR REHABILITATION, AND TO HELP THE COURTS PROCESS THE CASES FASTER. THE IMPACT OF THE ASAP ON PUERTO RICO; IDAHO; HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINN.; PHOENIX, ARIZ.; AND LOS ANGELES WAS STUDIED. THE EFFECTS OF THE ASAPS WERE MIXED. IN MINNESOTA, MORE STRINGENT LAWS RESULTING IN A RECORD NUMBER OF PENDING DWI COURT CASES CAUSED THE REVIVAL OF A CONTROVERSIAL PLEA BARGAINING PROCESS. IN ARIZONA, OFFENDERS WERE REQUIRED BY THE NEW LAW TO COMPLETE A REHABILITATION PROGRAM BEFORE THEY COULD PLEAD GUILTY TO A REDUCED CHARGE. DURING 1975, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM'S OPERATION, 82 PERCENT OF THE DEFENDAANTS ENROLLED ALSO, DWI CASES WERE PROCESSED FASTER. OVERALL, THE ASAPS HELPED COURTS IMPROVE THEIR METHODS OF DEALING WITH DWI OFFENDERS, ALTHOUGH MORE NEEDS TO BE LEARNED ABOUT THE COURTS THEMSELVES, AND THE IMPACT OF THEIR ACTIONS ON HIGHWAY SAFETY. COOPERATION WITH ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION WAS RECOMMENDED IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL POLICY FOR HANDLING DWI CASES BASED ON PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE. THE ASAPS COULD BE THE FIRST STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH POLICY. POLICY CONSIDERATIONS DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF THE FIVE STUDIES ARE NOTED. (ELP)