MULTIPLE OFFENDERS ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR CONTINUED DRUNKEN DRIVING. MASSACHUSETTS, THERFORE, MANDATED THAT INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF A SECOND DRUNKEN DRIVING OFFENSE EITHER BE COMMITTED FOR A MINIMUM OF 7 DAYS IN A HOUSE OF CORRECTION OR ENTER A 14-DAY RESIDENTIAL ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR SECOND OFFENDERS. A 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF ARREST RATES ASSESSED THE IMPACT OF THE TWO SENTENCING OPTIONS ON SUBSEQUENT ARRESTS FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR (DUIL). THE INCARCERATED SAMPLE (N = 190) WAS SLIGHTLY YOUNGER, HAD MORE PRIOR DUIL CHARGES AND EXHIBITED GREATER CRIMINALITY THAN THOSE WHO ENTERED TREATMENT (N = 199). OFFENDERS ADMITTED TO THE 14-DAY PROGRAM WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LIKELY TO BE REARRESTED FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING (10 VS 20%). A SUMMARY ODDS RATIO SUGGESTED THAT WHEN ADJUSTED FOR DIFFERENCES IN PRIOR ARRESTS, THE RISK OF REARREST WAS 1.9 TIMES GREATER AMONG INCARCERATED OFFENDERS. ALTHOUGH A 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP IS INSUFFICIENT TO ASSESS THE COMPLETE IMPACT OF THE 14-DAY PROGRAM, THE TWO-FOLD DIFFERENCE IN THE RISK OF REARREST SUGGESTS THAT MANDATED SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT MAY PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION AMONG REPEAT OFFENDER DRUNKEN DRIVERS. (Author/publisher).
Samenvatting