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<< Traffic Safety 

<< Back Print Version

Alternative Sentences for DWI Evaluation of a Day Reporting Center

Number 210 November 1999 

U.S. Department of Transportation

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590

ALTERNATIVE SENTENCES FOR DWI 

EVALUATION OF A DAY REPORTING CENTER

There is a considerable body of research pointing to repeat DWI offenders as a significant component of the drinking driving problem in this country. Traditionally, sanctions have included fines, jail time, and license suspension. In recent years, alternative sanctions such as treatment, community service, ignition interlocks, home detention with electronic monitoring, intensive probation supervision, and vehicle impoundment and forfeiture have become more widespread.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been examining the effectiveness of various sanctions for DWI offenders (see Traffic Techs Nos.130, 150, 180, 193). A new study conducted by Mid-America Research Institute examines the effectiveness of another type of sanction for repeat offenders -- a Day Reporting Center (DRC).

DRCs have been used in several jurisdictions as an alternative for jail for low-risk offenders convicted of a variety of offenses. In general, a DRC is a highly structured, non-residential facility that provides supervision, employment assistance, counseling, education, and community resource referrals. The program selected for this study is the DRC in Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona.

Day Reporting Center in Maricopa County

The offenders were all charged with a serious DWI offense such as multiple prior offenses or a DWI that involved a crash. All of these offenders first served a jail term of about two months. The offenders selected for participation in DRC are furloughed from their jail sentence while they are in the program.

The Maricopa County DRC program provides for house arrest, high supervision with probation officers, alcohol and drug tests, education, and employment. During the day, defendants follow an hour-by-hour schedule of courses offered at DRC or work. If an offender fails to complete the program he or she is returned to jail or sentenced for further violations. Each participant's term varies, but the average time in the DRC program is two to three months, followed by standard probation.

This study examined the recidivism of 177 DWI offenders in the DRC program compared to a control group of offenders who were not released into DRC but rather spent, on average, another two months incarcerated, and then were released on probation.

Two Years Later 8 Percent Recidivate

The researchers analyzed the probability of the occurrence of a subsequent DWI conviction over several years. The data indicated that there was no significant difference between the recidivism of the DRC group and the comparison group -- overall, 8 percent of both groups recidivated after two years.

Although this may seem like a negative finding, there is more to consider. Those in the DRC group were transitioning back into society and getting help with their alcohol or other problems, and were often employed or going to school. And, the costs for the County are significantly less for DRC offenders when compared to those in the comparison group. Those in the control group spent more time in jail than those furloughed into DRC. The cost for each jail day is $37 per day versus $20 spent per day on DRC participants. Thus, the County saves about $1,000 for each offender in the DRC program. In addition, the DRC staff reported no significant problems with the program, though they did suggest that more alcohol-specific treatment programs are needed for these offenders.

The researchers also analyzed the data from both the DRC and the comparison group to learn more about who, in general, tended to recidivate more often. The data indicated that those with more prior convictions tend to recidivate more often. For example, about 8 percent of offenders with two priors recidivated after two years compared with 13 percent of those who had six priors.

Conclusions

The DRC program in Maricopa County, Arizona provides an alternative sentencing option for repeat DWI offenders. Offenders in the program recidivated no more often than those still in jail, and the cost to the County was considerably less.

How to Order

For a copy of Evaluation of a Day Reporting Center for Repeat DWI Offenders, write to the Office of Research and Traffic Records, NHTSA, NTS-30, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC, 20590, or send a fax to (202) 366-7096. Amy Berning was the contract manager for this project.

U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

National Highway 

Traffic Safety 

Administration

400 Seventh Street, S.W. NTS-31 

Washington, DC 20590

Traffic Tech is a publication to disseminate 

information about traffic safety programs, 

including evaluations, innovative programs, 

and new publications. Feel free to copy it as you wish. 

If you would like to receive a copy contact: 

Linda Cosgrove, Ph.D., Editor, Evaluation Staff 

Traffic Safety Programs 

(202) 366-2759, fax (202) 366-7096

mailto:lcosgrove@nhtsa.dot.gov

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