Guidelines based upon research are needed to assist judges and prosecutors in reducing recidivism among people convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). While the efforts of judges, prosecutors and other professionals has contributed to the marked reduction in drinking-driving related deaths on the highway since the early 1980s, in the past 10 years progress has stagnated. The involvement of all practitioners in the DUI sentencing process is crucial from both community and public health perspectives. Dealing most effectively with serious traffic offenders can make a substantial difference in community members health, quality of life, and public welfare. The guidelines in this paper focus only on the offender convicted of DUI or DWI (the terms DUI and DWI are used interchangeably throughout this paper) and does not differentiate between DUI offenders convicted as a result of a routine traffic stop and those convicted as a result of involvement in a crash. These guidelines also do not deal with the more serious charges that could result from a DUI such as vehicular homicide or vehicular manslaughter. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E216178.
Samenvatting