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Driving While Intoxicated Enforcement - Grant Evaluation

NCJ Number
75159
Date Published
1980
Length
39 pages
Annotation
Evaluation of the third grant period of the St. Louis County Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) program, covering the period from December 1979 to September 1980, shows increased arrest activity when compared with the first two grant periods, but limited effectiveness due to delays in court processing of cases.
Abstract
The objective of the St. Louis County (Missouri) program has been to reduce property loss, injuries, and fatalities that can be attributed to alcohol-related accidents by increasing detection of drunk drivers and reducing the average processing time for arrests. During the third evaluation period, DWI arrests increased by 4.4 percent to 1,074 arrests. The amount of property damage and the number of injuries associated with DWI accidents decreased 9.2 percent. Processing time remained stable since all DWI arrests are processed at a central location. The impact of the program has been minimal, however, due to the failure of the courts to vigorously prosecute DWI offenders. Future areas of study for any further DWI program refunding include court processes in handling DWI prosecutions; repeal of the 1973 law that expunges the records of those convicted of DWI who receive suspended sentences; the practice of the courts in granting multiple continuances in DWI cases; methods for integrating the records of police and courts; the adequacy of police case preparation and testimony; and effective methods of disseminating to the public information on the dangers of DWI and the behavior of the courts. Data tables and graphs are included.