Comparative Study and Evaluation of SCRAM Use, Recidivism Rates, and Characteristics

SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring) is an ankle bracelet that conducts transdermal readings by sampling alcohol vapor just above the skin or insensible perspiration. It provides continuous monitoring of sobriety. The impact of SCRAM on the rate of repeat drinking and driving offenses (i.e., recidivism) was assessed for the first two years following arrest for 837 offenders in Wisconsin (avg. 85 days on SCRAM) and 672 offenders in Nebraska (avg. 87 days on SCRAM). SCRAM offenders, as compared to a Comparison group, recidivated (i.e. were rearrested for an alcohol offense), at higher rates in both states (7.6% versus 6.2% in WI; 9.8% versus 7.7% in NE, neither of which were statistically significant). However, there was virtually no recidivism while on SCRAM and those SCRAM offenders who did recidivate did so at a later time (360 days from original arrest for SCRAM versus 271 days for the Comparison group in WI, p<.05; 458 versus 333 in NE, p<.01). It was felt that the SCRAM population may represent a particularly high risk group of offenders (not fully controlled for in the current study) thus higher long-term recidivism was expected. However, SCRAM did delay recidivism even for this high risk group.

• Record URL:
  http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/812143-SCRAMRecidivismRatesReport.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Preusser Research Group, Incorporated

  7100 Main Street
  Trumbull, CT  United States  06611

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  Office of Research and Technology, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Tison, Julie
  • Nichols, James L
  • Casanova-Powell, Tara
  • Chaudhary, Neil K
• Publication Date: 2015-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 35p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Evaluation; Monitoring; Recidivism; Repeat offenders
• Identifier Terms: Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Continuous alcohol monitoring devices
• Geographic Terms: Nevada; Wisconsin
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01565336
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT HS 812 143
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-09-D-00133, Task 1
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 29 2015 12:23PM