Assessment of Citizen Group Court Monitoring Programs

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15252521987PDFResearch PaperProbst, JaniceLewis, J.Asunka, K.Hersey, J.Oram, S.SRA Technologies, Inc.United States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesDrunk drivingCourtsPublic participationBefore and after studiesDOT-HS-807-113NTIS-PB87205233DTNH22-85-C-07255Final reportThe purpose of the study is to determine whether the presence of a citizen group court monitoring program within a jurisdiction influences the disposition of driving while intoxicated cases. Initial research identified a number of citizens group court monitoring programs and selected a stratified random sample of these. Programs in the sample were contacted for information on their purpose and structure and perceived results of court monitoring. Two programs were selected as study sites: (1) Remove Intoxicated Drivers chapter, Oak Ridge, TN; and (2) Mothers Aganist Drunk Drivers chapter, Douglas County, NB. A pretest, posttest control group design was employed to test the effectiveness of the court monitoring programs at changing various aspects of DWI offender treatment. The study clearly demonstrated that a well organized court monitoring program implemented by an organized citizens' group can be effective at changing the handling of DWI offenders. Both programs studied, carried out by different parent organizations in very different communities, brought about an increase in the severity with which DWI offenders were treated. /Abstract from report summary page/129