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Initial Results from the Maryland DWI/DUI Sentencing Project

NCJ Number
123549
Journal
State Court Journal Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1990) Pages: 4-15
Author(s)
C Boersema; D Hardenbergh
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A 12-month study was begun in August 1988 to provide better information for Maryland judges on State sentencing practices on driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI).
Abstract
Study of court files on 6,213 DWI/DUI cases from 1985 to 1987 yielded results that challenged conventional wisdom which equates increased jail and fines with decreased recidivism. Results indicate instead that defendant and case characteristics were more responsible for fluctuations in recidivism rates. One-third of the sample had prior DWI/DUI convictions, and 15 percent had convictions after their sample case. Three-quarters had prior non-DWI traffic convictions; nearly 60 percent were between ages 21 and 35, 9 percent were under 21, and relatively few were above 45. Accidents and property damage in cases had little effect on recidivism rates, but rates for cases involving personal injury were low (10.1 percent). Type of sentence had no significant effect, and length of jail sentence had a negative, rather than positive, effect. 20 notes, 11 figures.