Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions1 Focusing DWI Sanctions The Myth of First Offenders Richard Roth, PhD Executive Director, Impact DWI Citizen Lobbyist and Research Consultant Supported by PIRE, NHTSA, RWJ, and NM TSB ,

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions2 Myths First DWI Arrest is First DWI First Offenders have a low probability of recidivism. A slap on the wrist is sufficient sanction. Second Offenders are much worse than first offenders.

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions3 59% were First in 20 years 75% were “First in 5 years” The Percentage of First Offenders Depends on Look-back Time

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions4 The Majority of DWIs Are First Offenders To Reduce Recidivism, You cannot ignore First Offenders To Reduce First Offenders, General Deterrence & Prevention

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions5 No Priors

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions6 Distribution of Offenders by Priors and Alcohol Problems A small (N~70) Anonymous Survey of DWI Offenders Average = 606 times

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions7 Facts About First Offenders The largest group of re-arrested DWI offenders have only one prior conviction. First Offenders admit driving drunk many times before arrest. First Offense Sanctions offer the best opportunity to change DWI behavior. Interlocks cost-effectively offer the needed behavior-modification treatment.

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions8 So I recommend On Any Conviction for DWI, Mandate 1 or more years of interlock (or Sobrieter for those who claim “no car” or “not driving”). Or even better.. On Any Arrest for DWI, Declare the Vehicle a Hazard to the Public and Mandate Immobilization until vehicle is made safe by installation of Interlock.

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions9 NM First DWI Conviction Study Time Period: First Convictions between January 2003 and December Treatment Group: 1461 First Offenders who installed interlocks within 90 days of conviction. Comparison Group: 17,562 First Offenders who did not install interlocks. Cox Multivariate Proportional Hazards Regression (Gender, Age, BAC,Group)

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions10 Most First Offender Interlocks were installed for only 3 months Installation duration for the 943 interlocks that were removed before the end of the study.

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions11 Interlocked First Offenders Have 62% Less Recidivism.

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions12 After Removal Those Who Were Interlocked Still Have a 19% Lower Recidivism Rate…but N is not large enough for it to be statistically significant. Hazard Ratio= 0.81, p=0.16, in a multivariate regression. A hint that bad actors DWI right after removal I hope this is not just a statistical fluctuation. Time will tell.

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions13 For 3 years following interlock installation, Those first offenders who installed “mandated” interlocks had lower recidivism. H.R. = 0.61 P < 0.001

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions14 Comparison Groups Interlocked Groups Interlocks are Effective with Court Mandated Offenders

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions15 Comparison Groups Interlocked Groups Interlocks are Effective with Volunteers ie. Not court-mandated

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions16 Before Interlocks After Interlocks

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions17 So Interlocks are very effective at reducing re-arrests of First Offenders The General Deterrent Effect of Sanctions Anti-DWI Advertising Prevention Programs Interlocks for High Risk Groups Inexpensive, Passive Interlocks in all cars BUT… ? HOW CAN WE REDUCE FIRST OFFENDERS The End

Roth Nov 16, 2006Focussing DWI Sanctions18