First-time DWI offenders are at risk of recidivating regardless of sanctions imposed

ObjectiveResearch demonstrates that punitive approaches to DWI employed by the judiciary have failed to significantly reduce recidivism. However, little is known about the deterrent effects of administrative and diversion sanctions. We examine whether such sanctions deter first-time DWI offenders.MethodsWe grouped combinations of administrative, judicial, and diversion sanctions routinely employed in the state of Maryland for processing drivers arrested for DWI into one of eight mutually exclusive disposition sequences. We applied this classification to Maryland drivers who had been licensed in the state and had precisely one DWI on their record prior to January 1, 1999. We then used a proportional hazards model to estimate the probability of remaining free of a new DWI during a 6-year period (January 1, 1999 – December 31, 2004) as a function of the disposition of the index violation, and of selected factors that could affect that probability.ResultsDrivers with a prior DWI were at relatively high risk of recidivating regardless of how they were sanctioned. Those who received administrative and alternative sanctions had a risk of recidivating similar to that of drivers who were convicted.ConclusionAll dispositions sequences, not just convictions, indicate that first-time DWI offenders are at high risk of recidivating.

Research Highlights
► Deterrence among first-time DWI offenders not affected by sanction type
► First-time DWI offenders have high rate of recidivism
► First-time DWI offenders more likely to recidivate than drivers with no prior DWI