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四种类型的法院，普通，快速审理，酒后驾驶（DWI）和混合药物。近年来，各州越来越重视使用刑事制裁来威慑酒后驾车的违法者。越来越明显的是，交通法庭模式本身不足以阻止酒后驾车。随着其他法律领域（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了专门法庭。这些法院将标准威慑与治疗罪犯潜在成瘾的努力结合起来。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酒后驾车累犯率、各种类型的犯罪、机动车死亡人数和更普通人群中的酒后驾车人数。这项研究有三个具体目标。在目标1，法院类型和创建酒驾法院的动力中，我们在国家基础上确定了酒驾法院和混合法院，包括实施和关闭的日期（如果适用）；确定3个州的快速立案法院，北卡罗来纳州（NC），佐治亚州（GA），密歇根州（MI）；并评估进入/退出酒后驾车和混合法院的决定因素。在目标2“法院对酒后驾车犯罪和违法者的影响”中，我们将使用NC数据检验有关法院和法院类型对违法者的影响的具体假设，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人数的影响，确定酒后驾车法庭是否导致UCR中记录的重大重罪率降低，从fars中记录的机动车辆设施-包括涉及致命事故的车辆操作员使用酒精的记录，以及一般的致命事故。本研究将产生两篇论文。一篇论文将包含研究目标1和3。第二篇论文将集中于聚焦于NC数据的Aim 2分析。基于Aim 2的结果，一个更大的项目的提案也将从这项研究中产生。

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.