NCJ Number
74473
Date Published
1977
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This report on the activities of a 5-year Alcohol Safety Action Project (ASAP) operating in San Antonio, Tex. highlights four areas of program operations related to driving while intoxicated (DWI) cases: enforcement, judicial adjudication, rehabilitation, and public information and education.
Abstract
Enforcement consisted of additional training and selective DWI enforcement procedures and resulted in increased officer efficiency in making DWI arrests and in an overall increase in the DWI arrest rate over the 5-year period (1972 through 1976). Adjudication efforts included provision of additional district attorneys, a supervisory district attorney, additional court dockets, and a court coordinator; and operation of a diagnostic center. Provision of additional staff was not effective during the first 3 years. The conviction rate was lower than planned, and the dismissal rate was higher than expected. Performance improved over the last 2 years. Over 60 percent of all adjudication procedures involved ASAP diagnostic services in the fourth and fifth years of operation. The rehabilitation program included an alcoholic treatment program using therapy, counseling and chemotherapy; indepth psychosocial evaluations by psychiatrists, and power motivation training; and a group education course for individuals diagnosed as social drinkers, which served the majority of clients. None of the programs significantly affected participant recidivism; however, they were positively accepted by the judicial system as alternatives to traditional sanctions. The public information and education program consisted of mass media citizen involvement and support, and driver and traffic safety campaigns. A fear of arrest advertising campaign was most effective. Suggestions for applying the results of the San Antonio ASAP program in other communities are given for each program area.