NCJ Number
49620
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM FOR DRINKING DRIVERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, IS COMPARED TO APPROACHES IN THE STATES OF VICTORIA AND SOUTH AUSTRALIA. SUGGESTIONS FOR REVISION OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES PROGRAM ARE MADE.
Abstract
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF NEW SOUTH WALES DECIDED IN 1975 TO LAUNCH AN ATTACK ON DRIVERS APPREHENDED WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. IT WAS FOUND THAT A NONDRINKING DRIVER, SOMETIME DURING HIS LIFE TIME, HAS A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A DRINKING DRIVER, AND THAT THERE IS A 10 PERCENT CHANCE THAT SUCH AN ACCIDENT WILL RESULT IN A FATALITY. A DRIVER WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL COUNT OF 0.10 PERCET OR HIGHER IS 6 TO 7 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAN A NONDRINKING DRIVER AND ONE WITH A COUNT OF 0.15 OR HIGHER IS 25 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT. SOUTH AUSTRALIA HAS UNDERTAKEN TO MEET THIS PROBLEM THROUGH SEVERE FINES AND SUSPENSION OF DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE, WITH FURTHER INCREASES FOR SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES. IF THERE IS A PREVIOUS CONVICTION WITHIN 3 YEARS, THE DRIVER MUST ATTEND AN ALCOHOLISM ASSESSMENT CLINIC. IF THE COURT IS SATISFIED THAT THE DRIVER IS ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, THE LICENSE IS SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER ORDER. THERE ARE PROCEDURES FOR REVOCATION. IN VICTORIA AN ALCOHOLISM/DRUG ADDICTION DIVERSIONARY TREATMENT PROGRAM MUCH LIKE THE ONE IN NEW SOUTH WALES IS IN OPERATION. THE VICTORIA PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ALL DRIVERS WITH BLOOD ALCOHOL COUNTS OF 0.10 OR ABOVE, WHICH MEANS MUCH YOUNGER DRIVERS ARE INCLUDED. THE NEW SOUTH WALES PROGRAM STARTS WITH COUNTS OF 0.15 OR ABOVE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE AVERAGE AGE OF A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT IS 32. THE NEW SOUTH WALES PROGRAM NEEDS TO CONSIDER ITS CURRENT POLICY OF REACHING HARDCORE OFFENDERS OR THOSE WHO ARE RECIDIVISTS. EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM TO COVER YOUNGER OFFENDERS IS SUGGESTED (GLR)