Citation

Falkowski CL. J. Saf. Res. 1986; 17(1): 33-42.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In 1982, the judges of the Hennepin County Municipal Court met and collectively decided that they would start sentencing all convicted first-time alcohol-related offenders to serve 2 days in jail. A research study was initiated to evaluate the effects of such sentences. It was the purpose of the evaluation to examine not only the effect of this policy on traffic safety, but also its impact on the operation of the court, the correctional system, driving while intoxicated (DWI) enforcement activity, and public perceptions. The major findings were: (a) in spite of the fact that 2-day jail sentences were voluntarily imposed by the municipal judges (vs. statutorily required), there was a high degree of judicial compliance; (b) the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility for the most part was able to effectively accommodate the DWI offenders serving 2-day sentences; and (c) there was a statistically significant average monthly reduction in Hennepin County of 35 nighttime injury accidents coincident with the adoption of the policy and after a 2-month lag time. This is a 20% reduction when compared to the prepolicy monthly average. There has also been a marked increase in the number of DWI arrests. Overall, the experience in Hennepin County has been positive and may have important implications for other jurisdictions considering changes in their DWI policies.