Evaluating a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Night Drug Court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, 1997-1998
Description
The purpose of this study was twofold. First, researchers
wanted to assess the benefits of the driving while intoxicated (DWI)
drug court established in the Las Cruces, New Mexico, Municipal Court
in an effort to determine its future viability. This was accomplished
by examining the behaviors and attitudes of three groups of convicted
drunk-drivers and determining the extent to which these groups were
different or similar. The three groups included: (1) non-alcoholic
first- and second-time offenders (non-alcoholic offenders), (2)
alcoholic first- and second-time DWI offenders (alcoholic offenders),
and (3) chronic three-time (or more) DWI offenders (chronic
offenders). The second purpose of this study was to explore police
officers' attitudes toward court-based treatment programs for DWI
offenders, while examining the distinguishing characteristics between
police officers who support court-based programs for drunk drivers and
those who are less likely to support such sanctions. Data for Part 1,
Drug Court Survey Data, were collected using a survey questionnaire
distributed to non-alcoholic, alcoholic, and chronic offenders. Part 1
variables include blood alcohol level, jail time, total number of
prior arrests and convictions, the level of support from the
respondents' family and friends, and whether the respondent thought
DWI was wrong, could cause injury, or could ruin lives. Respondents
were also asked whether they acted spontaneously in general, took
risks, found trouble exciting, ever assaulted anyone, ever destroyed
property, ever extorted money, ever sold or used drugs, thought lying
or stealing was OK, ever stole a car, attempted breaking and entering,
or had been a victim of extortion. Demographic variables for Part 1
include the age, gender, race, and marital status of each
respondent. Data for Part 2, Police Officer Survey Data, were
collected using a survey questionnaire designed to capture what police
officers knew about the DWI Drug Court, where they learned about it,
and what factors accounted for their attitudes toward the program.
Variables for Part 2 include police officers' responses to whether DWI
court was effective, whether DWI laws were successful, the perceived
effect of mandatory jail time versus treatment alone, major problems
seen with DWI policies, if DWI was considered dangerous, and how the
officer had learned or been briefed about the drug court. Other
variables include the number of DWI arrests, and whether respondents
believed that reforms weaken police power, that DWI caused more work
for them, that citizens have bad attitudes, that the public has too
many rights, and that stiffer penalties for DWI offenders were more
successful.