This report documents the results of a study to determine the effectiveness of two alternative sanctions programs for repeat DWIs (driving while intoxicated offenders). The programs were an Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP) program in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, and an Electronic Monitoring (EM) program in Los Angeles County, California. The ISP program was an early intervention program aimed specifically at engaging repeat DWI offenders in treatment shortly after arrest with ongoing monitoring and supervision throughout the pretrial period. The EM program engaged repeat DWI offenders immediately after conviction and sentencing with ongoing home electronic monitoring and supervision. The major concern in the evaluation was the effect of these two programs on the future drinking-driving behaviour of program participants. The study found that both programs were effective in reducing DWI recidivism significantly from the traditional-sanctions comparison programs. The ISP program reduced a moderate re-arrest recidivism probability after one year by about one-half, and the EM program reduced a low re-conviction recidivism rate after one year by about one-third. Both programs offered the promise of significant cost savings over incarceration. The study recommended that both programs be considered seriously by jurisdictions desiring to reduce the pressures on their correctional facilities and, at the same time, to increase the traffic-safety effectiveness of their traffic law system. (Author/publisher)
Abstract