Effectiveness of customized Victim Impact Panels on first-time DWI offender inmates

This study investigates the effectiveness of a customized Victim Impact Panel (VIP) on reducing 'driving while impaired' recidivism, alcohol consumption and drinking and driving behavior. The study was conducted at a 28-day Detention/Treatment Program in a largely rural county in northwestern New Mexico. Study participants were randomly assigned to attend or not attend a VIP while participating in the program for court-defined first-time driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders. There were no significant differences between the two groups on alcohol consumption, drinking and driving behavior, or recidivism within 2 years. These findings support the findings of other studies that VIPs do not produce a differential benefit with regards to recidivism of those convicted as a first-time DWI offenders.