NCJ Number
107861
Date Published
1987
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the third annual study of compliance with Indiana drunk driver recidivist penalties, which require persons with repeated convictions within a 5-year period to be imprisoned for at least 48 consecutive hours or perform at least 10 days of community service.
Abstract
A total sample of 5,964 second or subsequent offenders from 10 Indiana counties was used in the study. Site visits were made to courts in all 10 counties. A total of 3,818 recidivists (64 percent) served 48 consecutive hours in jail and 1,062 (17.8 percent) performed at least 10 days of community service. A total of 4,880 persons served the minimum mandated penalties, bringing statewide compliance to 81.8 percent. A total of 1,084 (18.2 percent) did not receive the mandated penalty and 983 (16.5 percent) of those escaped serving any jail time or performing any community service. Problems in determining and ensuring compliance are discussed. Diverse court recordkeeping systems continue to impede data collection and judges continue to treat recidivists as first offenders because of a lack of evidence in court records indicating recidivism. Recommendations include identifying repeat offenders because of a lack of evidence in court records indicating recidivism. Recommendations include identifying repeat offenders so that they receive appropriate penalties, standardizing court recordkeeping to readily capture data, maintaining relevant documents in files, determining where there are annual increases in the number of recidivists, and promoting effective community service programs since community service has caused compliance to increase from 68.7 percent in 1984 to 81.8 percent in 1986. 6 tables, 3 figures, 2 appendixes, and 5 references.