Young Adult Pre-DUI Visitation Program CALIFORNIA


PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS   PROGRAM AREA(S)
  Outstanding Collaborative Effort
Innovative Approach
Targets Hard-to-Reach/At-risk Drivers
  Youth Programs
Alcohol and Other Drugs
 
TYPE OF JURISDICTION
  Multi-county
 
TARGETED POPULATION(S) JURISDICTION SIZE
  Young Adults (18-21 years of age)   1,386,300 in Three Counties

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Although the State of California mandates intervention programming for the DUI offender, there was no programming available to the courts to deal with the young adult pre-DUI offender to deter the progression from "minor" alcohol-related traffic offenses to serious DUI offenses. Pre-DUI offenses include open container violations, possession of marijuana while driving and blood alcohol levels of .05 and over. The recidivism rate was 32 percent. Based on the success of the Office of Criminal Justice Planning's Corrective Behavior Institute (CBI), Juvenile DUI Visitation Program, in reducing recidivism, the courts in Santa Barbara, Monterey and Kern counties requested that the program be expanded to include 18-21 year old pre-DUI offenders.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Young Adult Pre-DUI Visitation Program was to reduce recidivism to 15 percent. To accomplish this, the following objectives were set:



STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

The 10-hour DUI Visitation Program gives participants exposure to the real life consequences of drinking and driving. The program is spread over several weeks; referrals come from the courts, schools and even family. Each group has 12 members who pay about $100 each. The program is highly structured and closely coordinated with the coroner's office and the hospital trauma unit. The first session (two hours) is held in the office of the county coroner or medical examiner. The first hour is an orientation during which participants tell what they did and why they did it. The second hour shows slides of foolish acts people do when they are high and focuses a discussion on how participants see themselves while high.

The second session is a four-hour visit to the trauma unit between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. This is a one-on-one session: one participant and one highly trained counselor, often an EMT, a paramedic or a nurse. During this session, the young person and the counselor will watch closely the handling of a trauma case, perhaps even seeing minor surgery performed, sometimes seeing people die. Then the young person and the counselor will go through the intensive care unit (ICU) with the ICU nurses describing the stories of the people who are there. Finally, there is simulated role-playing so that the young person gets a feel for what life is like blind or in a wheelchair. The counselors are trained to pick up on comments made by the young person and to make appropriate referrals (e.g., for family problems or for abuse).

The final session is held several weeks later. Before the session, each participant writes an essay (on a suggested topic or on one of his/her own choosing). During the session, the participants share their experiences in the trauma unit and learn additional information on the impact of drugs and alcohol on driving. They also critique the program.

RESULTS

The effectiveness of the program is measured by client satisfaction, recidivism and the successful coordination of services. Since 1994, a total of 1,021 young adults have entered the program from court referrals in the three counties. Participants are tracked every six months for five years, starting six months after completion of the program. Recidivism rates are very low: .0001 percent for Santa Barbara County, .062 percent for Kern Count and .0009 percent for Monterey County. Follow-up questionnaires have reflected positive feedback for the program. The program is now self-sustaining.