Researchers drew on four sources for data: the Anchorage Police Department vehicle seizure records; the Anchorage Municipal Prosecutor's Office case files; and case files of the Office of the Anchorage District Attorney. A literature review isolated the variables to be considered in the study. The majority of the arrestees in the sample were male, over 30 years old, white, and residents of Alaska. A serious traffic violation was the most frequently noted reason for stopping a person subsequently arrested for DWI; crashes were the next most frequent reason for the police stop. The majority of those stopped had blood alcohol levels above .10. A substantial majority of arrestees were released before trial, and about half were represented by appointed counsel. Half of those arrested had no prior DWI arrests, and less than 25 percent had more than one such arrest. The majority of those arrested pleaded not guilty at their initial trial, but changed at the point of final disposition, with 89 percent then pleading guilty or no contest. Only one arrestee who went to trial was found not guilty. The average elapsed time between arrest and sentencing in the cases studied was approximately 80 days. The average time sentenced was approximately 145 days, and the average time served was 35 days. The average fine was slightly more than $1,300. Arrestees with prior DWI convictions received longer sentences with larger fines, and it took longer to dispose of these cases. The presence of appointed counsel also correlated with more severe outcomes; however, the sentence actually served was not statistically longer, and those represented by appointed counsel were also more likely to have their fines suspended. The existence of aggravating circumstances (involvement in a crash, running a stop sign, etc.) did not apparently affect case disposition. 4 tables and 2 figures