Exploring Punishment for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving Under Influence (DUI) Offenders

Exploring Punishment for Driving While Intoxicated and Driving Under the Influence Offenders by Franklyn Johnson Scott MA, Southern University at New Orleans, 2002 BS, Southern University at New Orleans, 1997 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Health Psychology Walden University March 2014 Abstract Drinking and driving has been the focus of research since the 1960s, but researchers have not defined the meaning of punishment for offenders who continue to drink and drive. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of punishment on driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI) defendants to assess the likelihood of preventing subsequent offenses. This study also sought to describe the behaviors of defendants who are perpetrating multiple offenses. The protection motivation theory was the theoretical foundation of this qualitative case study. The sample included a diverse group of 16 men between the ages of 21and 35 who were recruited via a flyer in traffic court. Participants were interviewed, and interview data were transcribed verbatim and then coded for themes relating to punishments and DWI/DUIs. Initial interpretations were subjected to member checking for greater trustworthiness of the final report. The results of this study showed that the participants accepted responsibility for the frequent behaviors of drinking and driving and for being too intoxicated to make the decision to drive prior to their arrest. The results of the analyses indicated that the participants responded well to the punishment and opted to change their behaviors. Allowing offenders to describe and own their behaviors could positively create social change in these individuals, thus preventing them from incurring future DWI and DUI arrest.Drinking and driving has been the focus of research since the 1960s, but researchers have not defined the meaning of punishment for offenders who continue to drink and drive. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of punishment on driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI) defendants to assess the likelihood of preventing subsequent offenses. This study also sought to describe the behaviors of defendants who are perpetrating multiple offenses. The protection motivation theory was the theoretical foundation of this qualitative case study. The sample included a diverse group of 16 men between the ages of 21and 35 who were recruited via a flyer in traffic court. Participants were interviewed, and interview data were transcribed verbatim and then coded for themes relating to punishments and DWI/DUIs. Initial interpretations were subjected to member checking for greater trustworthiness of the final report. The results of this study showed that the participants accepted responsibility for the frequent behaviors of drinking and driving and for being too intoxicated to make the decision to drive prior to their arrest. The results of the analyses indicated that the participants responded well to the punishment and opted to change their behaviors. Allowing offenders to describe and own their behaviors could positively create social change in these individuals, thus preventing them from incurring future DWI and DUI arrest. Exploring Punishment for Driving While Intoxicated and Driving Under the Influence Offenders by Franklyn Johnson Scott MA, Southern University at New Orleans, 2002 BS, Southern University at New Orleans], 1997 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Health Psychology Walden University March 2014 Dedication I would like to dedicate this study to my best friend, Brandye Michelle Jesse. You have always been an inspiration to me. You exhibited great strength during your illness and until your untimely death. I always reflect on your willingness to work despite your situation every time I become weary. All you ever wanted was to return to your job that you loved but your illness prevented you. I miss and love you, and I want you to know that your untimely death was not in vain because I continuously feed off your strength and did so during the entire dissertation process. Thank you for your friendship and love. You are my friend and hero. Acknowledgments First, I would like to thank the Holy Trinity for guiding me through this process. Without God, this process would not have been possible. I would also like to thank my husband and best friend Kevin Richard Scott Jr. Kevin; you have been very supportive during this process and being the scholar that you are made me focus even more. I love you and thank God for sending me an Angel. I would like to thank my children Sidney, Shawn, Tre, and Karter for allowing mommy time to complete this process. I love all of you and will continue to do my best for my babies. I would like to thank my parents for always supporting my educational goals. Daddy, you worked hard to allow me to receive an education, and Mama, you will never know how much I appreciated the nights you stayed awake to keep me company while I studied and the times you kept the children so I could attend to my studies. Finally, I would like to thank my Professors Dr. Talpade and Dr. Cellini for your help and support during this process you are both great assets to Walden University.