NCJ Number
61311
Date Published
1979
Length
100 pages
Annotation
DIAGNOSIS, REFERRAL, AND REHABILITATION PROVIDED BY THE FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINA, ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROJECT (ASAP) FOR DRUNK DRIVING OFFENDERS, ARE DESCRIBED, AND DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS FOR 1976 ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE ASAP PROCESS, DEVELOPED IN 1975, GIVES DEFENDANTS ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL (DWI) THE OPTION OF APPLYING TO ENTER A REHABILITATION PROGRAM AFTER PLEADING GUILTY. THE JUDGE DECIDES WHETHER TO GRANT THE MOTION OR TO SENTENCE THE DEFENDANT. ALL DEFENDANTS REFERRED TO REHABILITATION MUST RETURN TO COURT 6 MONTHS AFTER THEIR TRIAL FOR FINAL DISPOSITION. FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE AND A GROUP INTERVIEW, THE INDIVIDUAL IS PLACED IN ONE OR MORE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. THE FIVE REHABILITATION CATEGORIES INCLUDE ALCOHOL-RELATED DRIVER EDUCATION, ALCOHOL EDUCATION AND INFORMATION, ALCOHOL TREATMENT CLINICS, DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS SUCH AS RESIDENTIAL CARE, DETOXIFICATION, AND INPATIENT VOCATIONAL COUNSELING. ANALYSIS OF THE CASES OF THE 1,799 DEFENDANTS WHO ENTERED ASAP IN 1976 SHOWED THAT 94 PERCENT WERE WHITE AND 91 PERCENT WERE MALE. PROBLEM DRINKERS WERE BOTH OLDER AND LESS EDUCATED THAN SOCIAL AND PREPROBLEM DRINKERS. FURTHER COMPARISONS SHOWED THAT THOSE WITH HIGHER INCOME, MORE EDUCATION, AND WHITE COLLAR OCCUPATIONS HAD THE HIGHEST RATES OF SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT. COST DATA INDICATE THAT ASAP INCREASED EFFICIENCY OF OPERATION BETWEEN 1975 AND 1976. COMPARISON OF ASAP PARTICIPANTS WITH A MATCHED GROUP NOT REFERRED TO ASAP SHOWED THAT THE TREATMENT GROUP HAD BOTH FEWER SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENTS AND FEWER DWI CONVICTIONS FOR FIGURES, EXTENSIVE TABLES, AND APPENDIXES SHOWING ASAP FORMS USED AND LISTING REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)