This paper evaluates and assesses the effectiveness of British courses and schemes for rehabilitating drunk drivers, and considers their future. A rehabilitation course aims to reduce the incidence of drinking and driving, by influencing offenders' attitudes and behaviour. It educates offenders about the effects of alcohol, and encourages them to examine their behaviour and consider the need to change. About half of the probation areas in Great Britain offer drink/drive rehabilitation courses, as part of the probation provision for offenders assessed to have a high risk of re-offending. The short and medium term effectiveness of rehabilitation courses can be measured by comparing the results of alcohol knowledge and attitude tests at the beginning and end of a course and a long time after its completion. A multiple choice alcohol knowledge test was used on a sample of participants, most of whom improved their scores in the post test and had also reduced their alcohol consumption by then. By the final session of each course tested, all participants recognised drinking and driving as unacceptable behaviour, and resolved not to drink and drive again. Adequate measures of changes in drink/drive behaviour after licence return have yet to be made.
Abstract