TY - JOUR PY - 2008// TI - A cognitive therapy treatment program for repeat DUI offenders JO - Journal of criminal justice A1 - Harrison, M. A1 - Moore, K. A. A1 - Young, Mark S. A1 - Ochshorn, Ezra SP - 539 EP - 545 VL - 36 IS - 6 N2 - Driving under the influence is a devastating problem in the United States, killing almost 17,000 people in 2005. The present article describes a cognitive treatment program aimed at repeat drinking and driving offenders. Sixty-three participants were court mandated to the four-month outpatient treatment program. Before entering and after completing treatment, participants were administered self-report instruments measuring alcohol problems, readiness to change, self-esteem/efficacy, and criminal thinking patterns. Additionally, arrest histories were examined. Findings suggested that participants were characterized not only by repeated arrests, but elevated blood alcohol content and high levels of self-reported alcohol dependency and problem-drinking behaviors. The majority of clients expressed a readiness to change their drinking and driving behaviors with 87 percent graduating from the program. A DUI recidivism rate of 13 percent was found for graduates of the program at a twenty-one month follow-up. The results demonstrate that the treatment program is a valuable tool in the battle to reduce criminal recidivism.

LA - SN - 0047-2352 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2008.09.004 ID - ref1 ER -