About dui/dwi

About dui/dwi

Introduction

DUI/DWI arrests cost tax payers millions of dollars yearly. Alcohol is a factor in 27% of Nevada's crash costs. Alcohol-related crashes in Nevada cost the public an estimated $1.1 billion in 1999, including $0.5 billion in monetary costs and almost $0.6 billion in quality of life losses. Alcohol-related crashes are deadlier and more serious than other crashes. People other than the drinking driver paid $0.7 billion of the alcohol-related crash bill. (dialdui.com) The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) has an increasing need for additional police officers due to increasing population in Las Vegas. The increased need places a burden on the budget.

If the number of DUI arrests were decreased there would be a lesser need for additional police officers in order to enforce DWI/DUI rules. Being able to shift these officers to other departments allowing them to fight crime wherever they are needed the most would alleviate some to the budget constraints of the department. The Serious Offender Program is a DUI program run by the Las Vegas Justice Court. This program has been in place since 1998. The Clark County Office of District Attorney and the Clark County Court Education Program collaborated on a feasibility study for a diversion program for chronic DUI offenders. The resulting program began with felony offenders, third DUI or more, no deaths or injuries involved in the arrest incident. The purpose of the program is; to address the problem of repeat offenders and reduce recidivism, to serve as a public safety measure for the serious safety problems caused by chronic DUI offenders, provide supervision and treatment services to rehabilitate those offenders amenable to treatment and behavior change, help with jail/prison overcrowding, reduce the number of cases in court system, and allow Deputy District Attorney to focus on other more severe cases involving death and injury. (Ruiz, 2007)

Persons convicted of DUI/DWI who pass through the Las Vegas Justice Court are referred to this program by the District Attorney's office. Once recommended for the program they are screened and must prove its success in order to continue to receive funding. This paper will examine the success of the Serious Offender Program and determine if the Las Vegas Justice Court can claim that repeat offenders of DUIs have decreased since the onset of the program in 1998. (Ruiz, 2007)This research project analysis is presented as follows. First, the paper describes the variables used in the study and develops hypotheses about how the mandatory SOP (Serious Offender Program) training affects the rate of recidivism. Then, the paper shows the statistical test and the results of our empirical estimation, respectively. Finally, the team presents a conclusion (interpretation) of the results.

Population of Interest

The population of interest for this study includes individuals charged with DWI or DUI and who passed through the Las Vegas Justice Court and have been referred by the Clark County District Attorney to attend the SOP program. These individuals are interviewed and evaluated for suitability to participate in the Serious Offender Program ...