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Deferred prosecution of DUI offenses

Adult Criminal Justice
  Literature review updated March 2017.

Deferred prosecution programs are intended for individuals charged with driving under the influence (DUI). These programs give judges discretion to dismiss DUI charges in exchange for the charged individual’s compliance with the conditions of the program. Participants are typically required to complete substance abuse treatment, use an ignition interlock device, and avoid new charges that are similar to DUI violations for up to two years.

Deferred prosecution programs can vary in length but typically last about 12 months.
 
ALL
META-ANALYSIS
CITATIONS

Meta-analysis is a statistical method to combine the results from separate studies on a program, policy, or topic to estimate its effect on an outcome. WSIPP systematically evaluates all credible evaluations we can locate on each topic. The outcomes measured are the program impacts measured in the research literature (for example, impacts on crime or educational attainment). Treatment N represents the total number of individuals or units in the treatment group across the included studies.

An effect size (ES) is a standard metric that summarizes the degree to which a program or policy affects a measured outcome. If the effect size is positive, the outcome increases. If the effect size is negative, the outcome decreases. See Estimating Program Effects Using Effect Sizes for additional information on how we estimate effect sizes.

The effect size may be adjusted from the unadjusted effect size estimated in the meta-analysis. Historically, WSIPP adjusted effect sizes to some programs based on the methodological characteristics of the study. For programs reviewed in 2024 or later, we do not make additional adjustments, and we use the unadjusted effect size whenever we run a benefit-cost analysis.

Research shows the magnitude of effects may change over time. For those effect sizes, we estimate outcome-based adjustments, which we apply between the first time ES is estimated and the second time ES is estimated. More details about these adjustments can be found in our Technical Documentation.

Meta-Analysis of Program Effects
Outcomes measured No. of effect sizes Treatment N Effect sizes (ES) and standard errors (SE) Unadjusted effect size (random effects model)
ES SE Age ES p-value
Alcohol-related offenses
Criminal offense (arrest, charge, conviction) that is alcohol-related. For example, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
33 2 3647 -0.165 0.045 35 -0.371 0.003

Citations Used in the Meta-Analysis

Baxter, B.L., Salzberg, P.M., & Kleyn, J.E. (1993). The effectiveness of deferred prosecution in reducing recidivism: An update (Technical Report 93-01). Seattle, WA: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington.

Rivolta, P.M. (2013). Pretrial diversion for first-time DWI offenders? An evaluation of the 'DIVERT' program. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.