Convicted Driving-While-Impaired Offenders’ Views on Effectiveness of Sanctions and Treatment

• Published in: Qualitative health research Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 17 - 30
• Main Authors: Lapham, Sandra, England-Kennedy, Elizabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2012; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - psychology; Adult; Alcoholic Intoxication - psychology; Alcoholic Intoxication - rehabilitation; Alcoholism; Arrests; Automobile Driving - legislation & jurisprudence; Automobile Driving - psychology; Behavior modification; Court orders; Drunk driving; Female; Humans; Interventions; Interviews as Topic; Law Enforcement - methods; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Perception; Prisons; Punishment; Punishment - psychology; Qualitative Research; Recidivism; Sanctions; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance abuse treatment; Time Factors; addiction / substance use; comparative analysis; alcohol / alcoholism; risk, behavior; intervention programs
• ISSN: 1049-7323; 1552-7557
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732311406450

In this article we analyze qualitative data from a multiple-method, longitudinal study drawn from 15-year follow-up interviews with a subsample of 82 individuals arrested for driving while intoxicated in a southwestern state (1989–1995). We explore reactions to the arrest and court-mandated sanctions, including legal punishments, mandated interventions, and/or participation in programs aimed at reducing recidivism. Key findings include experiencing certain negative emotional reactions to the arrest, reactions to being jailed, experiencing other court-related sanctions as deterring driving-while-intoxicated behavior, and generally negative opinions regarding court-mandated interventions. We discuss interviewees’ complex perspectives on treatment and program participation and their effects on lessening recidivism, and we offer suggestions for reducing recidivism based on our findings.