NCJ Number
73886
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A court-based diversionary program in New South Wales, focusing on hard-core drunk-driver offenders is evaluated as an alternative to traditional sanctions for identifying and treating driving and related health problems of chronic drinking drivers.
Abstract
Devised by an interdepartmental committee of the New South Wales government in 1976, the Sydney Drink-Driver Scheme enrolls only those drivers who are charged with having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 150/100 ml and above, or at least one previous drink-driving conviction. Alternative programs within the scheme comprise educational classes held weekly which discuss the effects of alcohol on the body and driving skills. Breathalyzer legislation, penalties, and the amount of alcohol required to break the law are also discussed. A second program offers a more individual counseling approach, while the third alternative provides behavior modification. In the first year of the program's operation, 560 drinking drivers enrolled, with 470 completing the program. A survey of program operations prior to January 1, 1977 shows that 90 percent of 356 offenders who accepted participation in the scheme completed the program. Other survey data show that 97 percent of the participants were male, 60 percent were above 30 years of age, 99 percent were in semiskilled or unskilled job categories, and 95 percent of the scheme clients had been charged with a breathalyzer offense. Other ongoing evaluative research of the Drink-Driver Scheme includes survey design activities, pretests of questionnaires, and comparisons of incidence of traffic accidents between scheme participants and other groups of drivers. Preliminary findings from a limited sample show lower reconviction rates for traffic offenses among scheme participants than among nonparticipants. Eight tables and seven references are provided.