Legislated policies and recidivism for driving under the influence of liquor in Massachusetts.

Abstract

Legislation on driving under the influence of liquor was changed significantly in Massachusetts on 1 December 1975; it permitted courts to continue cases without a finding if defendants were place probation and assigned to driver alcohol education. The effect of the revisions on the incidence of rearrest was assessed. The 3-yr arrest records of 522 individuals arrested for drunken driving 2 yr before the changes (1973) were compared with 716 and 690 offenders arrested 1 (1976) and 2 (1977) yr post-law modification. Sample participants were selected randomly. The legislation strongly affected court dispositions. Over 70% of the 1976-1977 cases were continued without findings and more offenders were sanctioned. The proportion found not guilty dropped from 1973 to 1976-1977. Absolute rearrest rates were similar for each cohort. Probability of arrest, however, rose substantially between 1973 and 1980. Relative to the increased arrest rate, there was a significant decline in rearrests 2 and 3 yr after a drunken driving arrest during the post-law period. The legislation apparently contributed to an amelioration of the drunken driving problem by encouraging judicial reforms and educational interventions.