NCJ Number
238507
Date Published
2012
Length
106 pages
Annotation
This report explains the features of a draft risk assessment instrument that will be tested for its ability to predict drunk-driving recidivism.
Abstract
The risk-assessment tool includes items modified from previous scales as well as items found to be significant in this project's own research. It contains seven separate domains. The mental-health domain contains eight items that determine the nature of the relationship between mental health disorders and chronic offending. The socio-personal-responsibility domain intends to reveal the level of personal and social responsibility of an individual. This measures one's general attachment to society and an internal locus of control. The risky substance abuse domain measures features related to a person's level of risky drug and alcohol use that may be related to chronic DWIs. The criminal-histories domain measures the offender's past involvement with the criminal justice system. The desire-for-change domain includes four questions related to an individual's desire to change his/her drinking patterns. The connection-between-internalized-locus-of-responsibility-and-DWI domain includes several items that measure how offenders assign responsibility in their decisionmaking process. The risky-driving domain measures specific characteristics related to driving in general to test general risky driver theories. The aforementioned domains provide a foundation from which increased understanding about habitual drunk driving will evolve. The research team plans to pilot test this draft risk-assessment tool in up to three locations, using convicted DWI offenders on community supervision. Currently, the team has received agreements from two agencies interested in participating in the pilot test. 8 tables, 3 figures, 64 references, and appended items drawn from other scales, and the draft risk-assessment tool