A MODEL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM FOR DWI OFFENDERS

This document puts forth a model community service program for DWI offenders. It may serve both as a basis of comparison for existing programs and as a starting point for programs currently being developed. The underlying philosophy of community service is that people who endanger the community through drunk driving, should make restitution to the community through active service. Cost savings result from the lower cost of community service when compared to the costs of incarceration, as well as labor provided by offenders. A study of eight counties and 115 clients in New Jersey, for example, estimated the value of the services performed by community service workers, combined with the dollar amount saved from incarceration expenses, to be $327,000 over a six month period. Regardless of the cost factor, incarceration may not be a viable option in many communities due to severe overcrowding of the jails. In addition to their value to communities, community service programs benefit offenders by imparting a sense of responsibility and by allowing them to update their skills. As a result, job references and often jobs themselves are obtained. Through community service, offenders also become aware of the extent of volunteerism in their communities and often continue to volunteer even after their sentence is completed. The several components of a successful community service program are reflected in the organization of this document. Included among those components are: Program Philosophy; Legal Mandate; Administration; Record Keeping; Agencies; and Community Support. The document demonstrates effective procedures in all of these areas.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1986-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 30 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Administrative procedures; Benefits; Communities; Drunk driving; Legal factors; Penalties; Public relations; Public service; Recordkeeping
• Uncontrolled Terms: Community support; Programs
• Old TRIS Terms: Community service; Procedural requirements
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; I10: Economics and Administration; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491272
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-806 983
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 28 1990 12:00AM