NCJ Number
173871
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 1998 Pages: 129-143
Date Published
1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A major policy concern regarding the sentencing of drunk drivers is whether rehabilitation or punishment should be the dominant strategy, and the relative merits of these two strategies were examined using data from a sample of driving while intoxicated offenders in Maryland.
Abstract
Data on 3,671 cases identified from Motor Vehicle Administration records for 1985-1993 were analyzed in terms of offender characteristics and rehabilitation and punishment variables. The analysis examined three dimensions: reconviction rates, offender types, and sentencing patterns. The dependent variable, recidivism, was conceptualized as whether it occurred and the time elapsed until it occurred. For all offenders, rehabilitation sentences appeared to reduce the likelihood of recidivism more than punishment sentences. For first-time offenders, the use of less formal punishment was the most effective in deterring drunk driving. The risk of recidivism among offenders receiving alcohol education was 22 percent less than the risk of recidivism among offenders without alcohol education while controlling for offender and sentence characteristics. Similarly, offenders with alcohol treatment had a 17-percent lower risk of recidivism than other offenders. Age and prior traffic convictions consistently predicted recidivism. Theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed, and directions for future research are noted. 64 references, 6 notes, and 5 tables