Operating Under the Influence - Programs and Treatment for Convicted Offenders in Massachusetts (From Drunk Driving in America, P 89-102, 1986, Stephen K Valle, ed. - See NCJ-104432)

• NCJ Number: 104438
• Author(s): M V Fair
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Massachusetts legislation passed in September 1982 increased the penalties for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and was followed by a dramatic change in the processing of drunk driving offenses, although disagreement exists about the most effective type of treatment for these offenders.

Abstract

Information came from semistructured interviews with representatives from Massachusetts agencies and institutions providing programs or custody for drunk driving offenders. Between July 1983 and June 1984, the Driver Alcohol Education program for first offenders served 25,258 clients. Sixty percent of the clients in these programs are referred to additional treatment programs, which include monitoring and aftercare. Second offenders go to residential treatment for at least 14 days as an alternative to 7 days in jail. Treatment facilities have expanded to include four programs. Third or subsequent offenders must spend at least 60 days in jail. In 1983 drunk driving offenders represented about 25 percent of all admissions to county correctional facilities. Correctional officials generally agreed that these offenders had serious alcohol problems. They perceived them as older and better educated than typical county inmates. Most counties offer alcohol-related programs to the general offender population as well as to drunk drivers. Alcoholics Anonymous is the most common program. Corrections officials regarded minimum-security settings as appropriate for these offenders. Short sentences make it hard to provide programming, however. Regional facilities may help relieve the overcrowding in local facilities. 4 references.