NCJ Number
74825
Date Published
1979
Length
242 pages
Annotation
The fourth in a series of analytical studies, this report examines the data collected primarily in 1973-75 on the impact of the Idaho Alcohol Safety Action Project (ASAP) on the flow of arrested drunk-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenders through the traffic safety system.
Abstract
It describes the ASAP community and procedures for disposition of alcohol-related traffic arrests. Data were obtained from the ASAP Alcohol Data Bank. The impact of the Idaho ASAP on the traffic safety system has been significant. For example, the percentage of persons convicted of DWI rose from 68.4 percent in 1971 to 86.7 percent in 1975. Presentence investigations, which were nonexistent in 1971, were performed in 39.1 percent of the cases for 1975. As a result of these investigations, 29.2 percent of the persons investigated were classified as problem drinkers and 37.5 percent of the DWI drivers arrested in 1975 were referred to rehabilitation. To determine if there were any differences in the distribution of Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BAC's) between disposition types, data for all 4 years were summed by disposition type and analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov technique. Statistically significant differences were found between convicted DWI's and DWI's receiving withheld judgment and between convicted DWI's and cases acquitted or dismissed. Analyses of fine sanctions reflected a tendency toward softer penalties which accompany withheld judgment disposition; such cases were more likely to attend court alcohol school and were less likely to be problem drinkers. Moreover, acquitted/dismissed cases were less likely to be problem drinkers. Extensive tabular data are included. An ASAP profile analysis is appended. (Author abstract modified)