NCJ Number
74843
Date Published
1979
Length
74 pages
Annotation
The effects of punitive sanctions and group therapy on the subsequent behavior of individuals arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Oklahoma City from April 1975 through June 1976 are described.
Abstract
Quasi-random assignments of 402 offenders were made to treatment groups representing punitive, control, rehabilitation, and a combination of rehabilitation and punitive efforts. Subjects had no known prior alcohol-related traffic offenses, were 21 years of age or older, and were arrested for nonaccident offenses. Members of the punitive group received suspended fines (except for $100) and jail terms and were placed on 1 year of unsupervised probation; control group subjects received a 1-year deferred sentence and participated in group therapy sessions once weekly for 6 months; and the combined group subjects received suspended fines (except for $100) and jail terms and were also required to attend the therapy sessions. Initial, 6-month and 12-month personal interviews and driver record checks were conducted to determine recidivism rates, accidents, and short-term lifestyle changes of participants. The results showed that none of the lifestyle factors relating to employment, family status, social interaction, health status or residential stability demonstrated any significant differences among treatment groups when the various interview scores were compared. Self-reported alcohol consumption decreased significantly for both punitive and control groups; however, these reports were considered as possibly misleading. The rehabilitation group had the lowest 12-month recidivism rate and a longer mean recidivism time than either the control or punitive group. Data tables; graphs; and appendixes containing the group assignment form, information on socioeconomic and demographic variables, therapy data, a summary of scoring procedures, and additional graphs are included.