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Treating drunk drivers with moral reconation therapy: a one-year recidivism report
Psychological Reports
|June 1, 1989
Summary
Moral Reconation Therapy significantly reduced drunk driving recidivism. Treated offenders had lower rearrest rates, especially when participating in aftercare programs, demonstrating therapy
Area of Science:
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
- Addiction Studies
Background:
- Drunk driving remains a significant public safety concern.
- Recidivism rates for convicted drunk drivers are a challenge for rehabilitation programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) in reducing recidivism among convicted drunk drivers.
- To compare rearrest rates between MRT-treated individuals and a control group.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental design comparing 115 convicted drunk drivers treated with MRT during incarceration to a control group of 65 untreated individuals.
- Post-release rearrest and conviction data were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- The MRT-treated group exhibited a 20% rearrest rate in the first year, compared to 27.6% in the control group.
- Individuals participating in structured aftercare post-release showed a substantially lower recidivism rate of 4.3%.
Conclusions:
- Moral Reconation Therapy appears effective in reducing drunk driving recidivism.
- Structured aftercare significantly enhances the long-term success of MRT interventions for this population.