Deterrent Effect of Specialty Courts for DWI Offenders

描述(由申请人提供)：这项为期两年的研究评估了4种类型的法院，普通法院、快速法院、酒后驾车(DWI)和混合毒品。近年来，各州越来越重视使用刑事制裁来威慑酒后驾车违规者。越来越明显的是，交通法庭模式本身不足以阻止酒后驾车。根据法律的其他领域(破产、家庭、精神健康)的趋势，各州越来越多地为酒后驾车案件设立专门的法院。这些法院将标准威慑与治疗罪犯潜在毒瘾的努力结合起来。拟议研究的总体议程是评估这些专门法院是否比普通法院更有效地降低一般人群中酒后驾车的累犯率、各种类型的犯罪、机动车死亡和酒后驾车。这项研究围绕三个具体目标展开。在目标1，法院的类型和创建《水灾保险法院》的动机中，我们在国家基础上确定了《水灾保险》和混合法院，包括实施和关闭的日期(如果适用)；确定了北卡罗来纳州(北卡罗来纳州)和密歇根州佐治亚州(密歇根州)的快速案卷法院；并评估了《水灾保险》和混合法院的进出决定因素。在目标2，法院对酒后驾车犯罪和违法者的影响，我们将使用NC数据检验关于法院的具体假设和法院类型对违法者的影响，并评估在后续研究中使用GA和MI数据的可行性。目标3--法院对犯罪和机动车死亡的影响--确定酒后驾车法院是否导致UCR、FARS机动车辆设施中记录的重大重罪率降低--无论是那些有记录的涉及致命事故的车辆操作员使用酒精的情况，还是总体上的致命事故。这项研究将产生两篇论文。一篇论文将包括研究目标1和3。第二篇论文将集中于目标2的分析，重点是NC数据。这项研究还将在目标2结果的基础上提出一个更大的项目建议。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This 2-year study evaluates 4 types of courts, general, expedited docket, driving while Intoxicated (DWI), and hybrid drug. In recent years, states have placed increased emphasis on use of criminal sanctions to deter DWI offenders. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the traffic court model is insufficient to deter DWI in and of itself. Following trends in other areas of the law (bankruptcy, family, mental health), states increasingly have implemented specialized courts for DWI cases. These courts combine standard deterrence with efforts to treat offenders' underlying addictions. The overall agenda of the proposed research is to evaluate whether or not these specialized courts are more effective than general courts in reducing rates of DWI recidivism, crimes of various types, motor vehicle fatalities and DWI in the more general population. The study is organized around 3 specific aims. In Aim 1, Types of Courts and Impetus for Creation of DWI Courts, we identify DWI and hybrid courts on a national basis, including dates of implementation and closure (if applicable); identify expedited docket courts for 3 states, North Carolina (NC), and Georgia (GA), Michigan (MI); and assess determinants of entry/exit of DWI and hybrid courts. In Aim 2, Effects of Courts on DWI Offenses and Offenders, with NC data we will test specific hypothesis regarding the courts and effects of court type on offenders, and evaluate the feasibility of using data from GA and MI in a follow-on study. Aim 3, Effects of Courts on Crime and Motor Vehicle Fatalities, determines whether DWI courts result in reduced rates of major felonies as recorded in the UCR, motor vehicle facilities from FARS-both those for which there is documented alcohol use by a vehicle operator involved in the fatal accident, and for fatal accidents in general. Two papers will result from this research. One paper will incorporate study aims 1 and 3. The second paper will center on the Aim 2 analysis focusing on NC data. A proposal for a much larger project, building on the results from Aim 2 will also result from this study.