THE THEORY BEHIND A SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR FIRST OFFENDERS ARRESTED FOR DRIVING WHILE DRINKING IS EXPLORED. MANY COURTS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CALIF., INCLUDE THE COURSE AS PART OF THE OFFENDER'S SENTENCE. STATE OF CALIFORNIA DRIVING RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE 24-MONTH RECIDIVISM RATE FOR A RANDOM SAMPLE OF STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED SESSIONS 1-38 (1974-1975) WAS 18.6 PERCENT, WHILE THE 24-MONTH RATE FOR STUDENTS IN SESSIONS 39-84 (THE YEARS 1975-1976) WAS 7.9 PERCENT. THE 12-MONTH RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THE 1976-1977 COHORT WAS LESS THAN 6 PERCENT. THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO GREATER EFFECTIVENESS OF COURSE CONTENT AND GREATER EXPERTISE ON THE PART OF THE INSTRUCTORS. IN ADDITION TO THE RECIDIVISM DATA, QUESTIONNNAIRES WERE MAILED TO A RANDOM SAMPLE OF 936 COURSE GRADUATES. ONLY 126 WERE RETURNED, BUT THESE DID SHOW IMPROVED DRIVING ATTITUDES. CHARTS AND TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE COURSE AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS INCLUDED IN THE SCHOOL'S PRESENTATIONS ARE APPENDED. THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE IS INCLUDED, TOGETHER WITH A TABULATION OF RESPONSES. A PROFILE OF THE AVERAGE PERSON ARRESTED ON A 'DRUNK DRIVING' CHARGE IN THE COUNTY AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)