traffic injury research foundation a driving force for safety status and vision of ignition...

A DRIVING FORCE FOR SAFETY TRAFFIC INJURY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Status and Status and Vision of Vision of Ignition Ignition

Interlock UseInterlock Use

Robyn Robertson, M.C.A.Robyn Robertson, M.C.A.

Traffic Injury Research FoundationTraffic Injury Research FoundationAlcohol Ignition Interlocks to Reduce Impaired Driving Alcohol Ignition Interlocks to Reduce Impaired Driving RecidivismRecidivism

Washington, DC Washington, DC

August 22August 22ndnd, 2007, 2007


GoalsGoalsBackground regarding the Background regarding the use of technologies to use of technologies to monitor impaired driving monitor impaired driving offenders.offenders.Status of interlock usage Status of interlock usage today. today. Priority issues in the delivery Priority issues in the delivery and implementation of and implementation of ignition interlocks.ignition interlocks.Opportunities and future Opportunities and future needs.needs.


BackgroundBackgroundTechnologies to enhance the monitoring Technologies to enhance the monitoring of DWI offenders have evolved. of DWI offenders have evolved. Technologies can be an effective tool Technologies can be an effective tool when combined with a comprehensive when combined with a comprehensive system of supervision.system of supervision.Many jurisdictions have facilitated and Many jurisdictions have facilitated and encouraged the use of technologies.encouraged the use of technologies.Yet ways in which technologies have Yet ways in which technologies have been implemented and applied vary been implemented and applied vary widely – underused potential to reduce widely – underused potential to reduce recidivism. recidivism. Despite advanced technology, enabling Despite advanced technology, enabling legislation and compelling research, legislation and compelling research, devices are used irregularly – why? devices are used irregularly – why?


IntroductionIntroductionImplementation and delivery of Implementation and delivery of interlock technology has received interlock technology has received far less attention. far less attention. Practitioners are a linchpin in the Practitioners are a linchpin in the delivery of interlocks to offenders – delivery of interlocks to offenders – yet they have had limited yet they have had limited opportunities to provide input.opportunities to provide input.This has hindered the use and This has hindered the use and expansion of interlocks -- 10% of expansion of interlocks -- 10% of eligible offenders have an interlock eligible offenders have an interlock installed.installed.Attention must now be focused on Attention must now be focused on improving implementation and improving implementation and delivery. delivery.


Priority issuesPriority issuesComplexity of the systemComplexity of the systemEducationEducationEligibilityEligibilityMonitoring for complianceMonitoring for complianceInter-agency coordination Inter-agency coordination and cooperationand cooperationResources Resources


Priority issuesPriority issues Complexity of the system:Complexity of the system:

System consists of many System consists of many interdependent agencies – each with interdependent agencies – each with its own goals and responsibilities.its own goals and responsibilities.Procedures and processes are Procedures and processes are governed by legislation and governed by legislation and regulation.regulation.Practitioners are obliged to fulfill Practitioners are obliged to fulfill statutory requirements imposed by statutory requirements imposed by the system – i.e., the use of interlocks the system – i.e., the use of interlocks must fit within the existing and must fit within the existing and accepted practices that govern the accepted practices that govern the justice system.justice system.


Priority issuesPriority issues Education:Education:

Practitioners require diverse information Practitioners require diverse information about interlocks to fulfill their respective about interlocks to fulfill their respective roles and obligations. roles and obligations. Research results and technological Research results and technological advances are substantial and impressive advances are substantial and impressive but not well-translated in the criminal but not well-translated in the criminal justice literature. justice literature. Comprehensive educational opportunities Comprehensive educational opportunities are inconsistent and/or non-existent for are inconsistent and/or non-existent for professionals. professionals. Myths and legends surrounding interlocks Myths and legends surrounding interlocks have never been adequately addressed have never been adequately addressed outside of the research community.outside of the research community.


Priority issuesPriority issues Eligibility:Eligibility:

Interlocks are a priority need for Interlocks are a priority need for high risk offenders -- repeat, high-high risk offenders -- repeat, high-BAC, and non-compliant. BAC, and non-compliant. These offenders are least likely to These offenders are least likely to install an interlock. install an interlock. These offenders are frequently These offenders are frequently excluded from the use of interlocks excluded from the use of interlocks for persistent non-compliance. for persistent non-compliance. The greatest benefits will accrue by The greatest benefits will accrue by ensuring these offenders are ensuring these offenders are subject to an interlock device.subject to an interlock device.


Priority issuesPriority issues Monitoring for compliance:Monitoring for compliance:

Research shows more than 40% of Research shows more than 40% of convicted offenders fail to complete the convicted offenders fail to complete the terms and conditions of sentencing. terms and conditions of sentencing. Interlocks are only effective if installed Interlocks are only effective if installed – many offenders avoid installation. – many offenders avoid installation. A lack of monitoring means sanctions A lack of monitoring means sanctions are not imposed for non-compliance; are not imposed for non-compliance; compliance is not reinforced – i.e., compliance is not reinforced – i.e., minimizes the benefits of interlocks. minimizes the benefits of interlocks. Detracts from public support for Detracts from public support for interlocks and their faith in the justice interlocks and their faith in the justice system to protect the public.system to protect the public.


Priority issuesPriority issues Inter-agency coordination and Inter-agency coordination and cooperation:cooperation:

Many agencies are involved in the Many agencies are involved in the delivery of interlocks. delivery of interlocks. Treatment plays a critical role but is Treatment plays a critical role but is rarely considered part of the system.rarely considered part of the system.Agencies frequently act as silos, not Agencies frequently act as silos, not partners – delivery is fragmented.partners – delivery is fragmented.Communication, sharing and exchange Communication, sharing and exchange of information is inconsistent/non-of information is inconsistent/non-existent.existent.Leads to a lack of leadership, Leads to a lack of leadership, responsibility and accountability.responsibility and accountability.


Priority issuesPriority issues Resources:Resources:

The use of interlocks has benefits but The use of interlocks has benefits but also costs – the allocation of resources also costs – the allocation of resources has largely been an afterthought.has largely been an afterthought.Costs for education of professionals.Costs for education of professionals.Costs for the development of Costs for the development of supporting policies, practices, and supporting policies, practices, and procedures.procedures.Costs for staffing/support for delivery.Costs for staffing/support for delivery.Costs of devices and monitoring – for Costs of devices and monitoring – for paying and indigent offenders.paying and indigent offenders.


OpportunitiesOpportunitiesImpaired driving remains a priority Impaired driving remains a priority

concern at all levels. concern at all levels. Policymakers, practitioners and the Policymakers, practitioners and the

public are engaged in the issue of public are engaged in the issue of interlocks.interlocks.

Gaps in delivery have been identified.Gaps in delivery have been identified.The importance of a coordinated The importance of a coordinated

systems approach has been systems approach has been recognized.recognized.

Agencies can benefit from the Agencies can benefit from the strategic use of resources and lower strategic use of resources and lower recidivism rates.recidivism rates.


Future needsFuture needsOngoing dialogue among agencies to Ongoing dialogue among agencies to

address identified gaps in delivery.address identified gaps in delivery.Streamlined and comprehensive Streamlined and comprehensive

legislation to close gaps in system legislation to close gaps in system and facilitate the delivery of and facilitate the delivery of interlocks to offenders posing the interlocks to offenders posing the greatest risk.greatest risk.

Development of implementation Development of implementation guidelines that accommodate guidelines that accommodate demands of the justice system.demands of the justice system.

Consistent and uniform educational Consistent and uniform educational opportunities for all practitioners.opportunities for all practitioners.


ConclusionsConclusionsIgnition interlocks have considerable Ignition interlocks have considerable

potential to reduce drunk driving potential to reduce drunk driving recidivism and protect the public from recidivism and protect the public from high-risk offenders.high-risk offenders.

Interlocks represent an opportunity to Interlocks represent an opportunity to reduce the burden imposed on the reduce the burden imposed on the justice system by drunk driving justice system by drunk driving offenders.offenders.

Coordinated approach involving policy-Coordinated approach involving policy-makers, criminal justice practitioners, makers, criminal justice practitioners, treatment professionals and treatment professionals and government agencies is critical to government agencies is critical to success.success.


Staying informedStaying informed

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