Analysis of Drinker Diagnosis and Referral Activity in Columbus Georgia From January, 1972 - December, 1974, Section 2, Volume 5

• NCJ Number: 74549
• Author(s): C W Peek; J M Hudson; E V Milton; R Seller
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 58 pages
• Contract Number(s): DOT HS-057-1-074
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Admin
• Corporate Author: University of Georgia
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report is one of a series of analytic studies Columbus-Muscogee County Georgia's Alcohol Safety Action Project (ASAP), the judicial education and rehabilitation system of the recorder's courts and State courts and its relationship to referral and diagnostic activity are discussed.

Abstract

Prior to ASAP there was virtually no referral or diagnostic activity in either the recorder's court or in the State court. Over the ASAP operative years, January 1972 through December 1974, referral and diagnostic activity increased to substantial levels, with 54 percent of those convicted of driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUI) being referred by both courts. The ASAP-initiated classification system identifies the problem drinking driver and the non-problem drinking driver based on blood alcohol content and previous arrest record. An evaluation of the classification system shows that it may provide a reliable means of rapidly classifying drinking drivers with reasonable accuracy. Three education and treatment modalities are available to the courts because of ASAP, including the traffic information program, a therapy regimen for problem drivers classified as level II drinking drivers, and a number of treatment centers. Analysis of the referral and diagnostic activity during the ASAP operational period considers the use of alternative sentencing or referrals by phase, year, race, sex, age, and occupation. ASAP was successful in generating a high level of referral activity by the court system, but there was a lack of success in the enforcement of referral sentences by the courts and failure by the courts to take advantage of the diagnosis facilities provided by ASAP. Analysis results for the distributions are shown in 17 tables and explanatory footnotes accompany the text. For related information, see NCJRS 74546.