Criminality and continued DUI offense: criminal typologies and recidivism among repeat offenders

Abstract

We examined over 20,000 arraignment records to define criminal typologies and post-treatment driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) convictions for a select cohort of 1,281 repeat DUI offenders who were offered and elected treatment as an alternative to incarceration; we compared this information with a similar data analysis collected 20 years previously. Analyses of 8,600 prior-to-treatment convictions defined four basic crime profiles: only DUI and other substance-related offenses (60%), plus crimes against property (18%), plus crimes against people (8%), plus crimes against both property and people (13%). During the six years after inpatient treatment, 15.5% of the cohort was convicted of another DUI. The reoffense rate was significantly different across criminal types and was not related to the time post treatment years at risk. The findings show there has been no significant improvement in treatment outcome over the last 20 years. New and innovative DUI offender policies and practices are needed to better engage the heterogeneous offender population, and reduce the incidence of repeat DUI.

Factors associated with recurrence of alcohol-related traffic violations in southern Brazil

“…Another possible assumption is that, as older age tends to be related to higher family income and financial independence, the application of fines may not have the necessary impact to prevent drinking and driving behaviors in this population (there is not an actual financial burden on the recidivist). Also, the recurrence rate of DUI violations found in our study was lower than the rates reported in other international studies, 13 probably as a result of a poor enforcement of traffic laws in Brazil; this scenario generates a sense of impunity among drivers and thus contributes to maintaining the delinquent behavior. 27 Once again, this finding underscores the need to enforce stricter laws, with mass media campaigns and news coverage to help reduce the widespread perception of impunity after drinking and driving.…”

“…In the U.S., treatment of DUI offenders has achieved satisfactory results. 13 This study presented limitations in the generalization of findings due to the study period and because it referred to only one state in Brazil. Moreover, it was not possible to identify the psychiatric comorbidities present in the sample, which could have altered results.…”

“…For example, in Sweden, DUI relapse rate was 16% in two years and 14% in four years 12 ; in the U.S., the recurrence rate found in 6 years was 15.5%. 13 One of the strategies used to identify drivers with a potential to adopt high-risk behaviors, e.g., in Spain, Portugal, and France, is psychological assessment. [14][15][16] In Brazil, it precedes and complements the medical examination required for issuance of the first national driver's license and for license renewal among professional drivers.…”

Profiling drunk driving recidivists in Denmark

“…For example, some studies indicate that the likelihood of drunk driving recidivism increases with increasing BAC at the time of arrest (e.g., Armstrong et al, 2014;C'de Baca et al, 2001), whereas other studies do not find that effect (e.g., Cavaiola et al, 2007). Other factors related to recidivism include drinking frequency (Schell et al, 2006), use of prescription drugs (Dickson et al, 2013), a criminal record (LaBrie et al, 2007), neurocognitive impairment (Ouimet et al, 2007), and age and education level (C'de Baca et al, 2001). Also gender plays a role, as drunk driving recidivism is more prevalent among male drivers than female drivers (Armstrong et al, 2014;C'de Baca et al, 2001;Lapham et al, 2000).…”

The role of demographic characteristics and readiness to change in 12-month outcome from two distinct brief interventions for impaired drivers

“…Motivational interviewing (MI; Miller, 2004) is currently the object of intense interest as a psychosocial intervention to effectively and expeditiously intervene in alcoholism and other problems, populations, and settings (Chanut, Brown, & Dongier, 2005;Dunn, Deroo, & Rivara, 2001;Hettema, Steele, & Miller, 2005;Knight, McGowan, Dickens, & Bundy, 2006;Lundahl & Burke, 2009;Rubak, Sandbaek, Skipper, Hunt, & Chang, 2000), treatment refractoriness (LaBrie, Kidman, Albanese, Peller, & Shaffer, 2007;WellsParker, Anderson, Landrum, & Snow, 1988;Wells-Parker, Bangert-Drowns, McMillen, & Williams, 1995), poor problem recognition, and resistance to intervention participation Nochajski & Stasiewicz, 2005;Voas, Tippetts, & McKnight, 2010). Hence, MI seems well suited for intervening with DWI recidivists.…”