Traffic Safety Digest - Winter 2002
LOUISIANA
Victim Impact Panel Program

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS
Targets DWI Offenders
PROGRAM AREA(S)
Occupant Protection
Alcohol and Other Drugs
TYPE OF JURISDICTION
Courts
 
TARGETED POPULATION
DWI Offenders and Victims
JURISDICTION SIZE
27 statewide locations


PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

In 1999, 44 percent of all Louisiana traffic fatalities involved alcohol, compared to the national average of 34 percent. In an attempt to help reduce the number of alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes in Louisiana, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC) contracted with the Louisiana State Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Office to solicit judges to support the Victim Impact Panel (VIP) Program. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offenders are sentenced to attend a court-ordered VIP of DWI victims to understand the personal impact that a DWI may cause on innocent persons.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary goal is to reduce the number of alcohol-related fatal and injury crashes in Louisiana. To reach this goal, Louisiana MADD sought to:

  • establish and maintain VIPs throughout Louisiana;

  • obtain local judges’ support of VIP operations in their jurisdictions;

  • locate, recruit and train DWI victims to be members of VIPs;

  • maintain records and statistics;

  • conduct a random sample of 10 percent of VIP DWI offender participants to check for repeat DWI arrests to assess VIP effectiveness in deterring recidivism;

  • coordinate media efforts to support VIPs;

  • make the program self-supporting, by requiring DWI offenders to pay a program fee; and

  • hire an off-duty police officer to serve as security for each VIP.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

The panel includes one or more victim survivors of alcohol-related crashes. These survivors talk about the impact that the crash had on their lives and the lives of their friends and families. The program has activities on two fronts. First, judges and magistrates are informed about the panels and asked to include, as part of their sentencing, a requirement that the offender attend an impact panel. DWI offenders hear first-hand about the tragic results of drinking and driving. Twenty-seven statewide judicial courts have established VIPs. Second, the VIP database, which was developed to track DWI offender recidivism, currently contains over 3,000 DWI offender names. The operating budget during FY2001 was over $37,000.00. Program income earned from DWI offender fees totaled slightly over $19,000.00.

RESULTS

  • Recidivism rates will be tracked within the next year.

  • Local newspapers provided excellent media coverage.

  • The VIP Program is making progress towards self-sufficiency. DWI offenders who attend a VIP pay a $5.00 fee. The program income pays for a portion of the VIP costs, including those of the off-duty police officer providing security services.

 

 

FUNDING
Section 402: $29,000
Other (program fees): $19,933
CONTACT
Jennifer Holley
LA MADD State Office
5700 Florida Blvd.
Ste. 604
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
(225) 926-0807



National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

   WINTER 2002     

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