© 2005 Behavioral Health Research Institute of the Southwest
612 Encino Place NE / Albuquerque, NM 87102 / 505.244.3099 / www.bhrcs.org

Follow-up of Women DWI Offenders
5 Years After Screening
Funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Although women constitute 13% of all persons arrested for driving while impaired (DWI) nationally, investigators have largely ignored them. Yet, evidence indicates that the number of female DWI offenders is increasing. The cumulative literature regarding factors that contribute to DWI and high-risk driving has been derived almost exclusively from studies of males. Factors that have emerged as important contributors to driving risk among males encompass five psychosocial domains: demographic characteristics; excessive alcohol use; personality traits; acute states of emotional distress; and driving-related attitudes (Donovan et al., 1983). Donovan and colleagues have postulated a theoretical cognitive-behavioral model that integrates the influence of these factors on driving risk. The purpose of this project was to characterize female DWI offenders, test the applicability of this model to female versus male DWI offenders, develop predictive models for driving outcomes based on information obtained during the initial assessment, and evaluate the quality of information provided in the initial assessment. To accomplish this, a systematic follow-up study was conducted of the entire cohort of female first DWI offenders who were initially evaluated at the time of referral from a municipal court system to the Lovelace Comprehensive Screening Program (LCSP) during its first 3 years of operation. Structured, in-person interviews were conducted on all available female first DWI offenders (N=760), and a comparison group consisting of male first offenders (N=636) equal to the female ethnic/race groups. These interviews examined the course of alcohol and driving problems over the 5-year period following the index arrest.

Related Publications

1. Chang, I. and Lapham, S.C. Validity of self-reported criminal offenses and traffic violations in screening of driving-while-intoxicated offenders. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 31(6):583-590, 1996.
2. Chang, I., Lapham, S.C. and Barton, K.J. Drinking environment and sociodemographic factors among DWI offenders. J. Stud. Alcohol, 57:659–669; 1996.
3. Lapham, S.C., Skipper, B., and Simpson, G.L. A prospective study of the utility of standardized instruments in predicting recidivism among first DWI offenders. J. Stud. Alcohol, 58(5):524–30, 1997.
4. Lapham, S.C., Skipper, B.J., Chang, I., Barton K., and Kennedy, R. Factors related to miles driven between drinking and arrest locations among convicted drunk drivers. Accid. Anal. Prev., 30(2):201-206, 1998.
5. Lapham, S.C., Baum, G., Skipper, B.J., and Chang, I. Attrition in a follow-up study of DWI offenders: Who is lost? Alcohol and Alcoholism (accepted with revisions).
6. Lapham, S.C., Smith, E., Chang, I., Skipper, B.J., C’de Baca, J., Baum, G., and Hunt, W.C. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among convicted DWI offenders at 5-year follow-up. (Submitted)
7. Lapham, S.C., Hunt, W.C., Skipper, B.J. and Chang, I. Why are female drunk driving offenders rearrested less often than males? Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (accepted with revisions).
8. Chang, I., Lapham, S.C. and Wanberg, K. Alcohol Use Inventory: Screening and assessment of first-time DWI offenders – I. Reliability and profiles. Alcohol and Alcoholism (accepted with revisions).
9. Chang, I., Lapham, S.C., C’de Baca, J. and Davis, J.W. Alcohol Use Inventory: Screening and assessment of first-time DWI offenders – II. Typology and predictive validity. Alcohol and Alcoholism (accepted with revisions).
10. Lapham, S.C., Chang, I., Hunt, W.C. and Berger, L.R. Under-identification of drug use among drunk driving offenders. (Submitted)
11. C’de Baca, J., Lapham, S.C, Paine, S, and Skipper, B.J. Victim Impact Panels: Who is sentenced to attend? Does attendance affect recidivism of first-time DWI offenders? Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (accepted with revisions).
12. Lapham, S.C., Chang, I., Skipper, B.J. and Berger, L. Blood alcohol concentrations at arrest and the subsequent diagnosis of alcohol dependence. (Submitted)