An Examination of an Intensive Probation for Alcohol Offenders: Five-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of Dougherty County, Georgia's Criminal Alcoholic Program. CAP is a five-year intensive probation program for alcohol offenders, which includes the ingestion of antabuse. Two samples were used: (1) those included in a two-year follow-up evaluation of CAP published previously in this Journal (N= 70); and (2) an independently derived sample of approximately equal size (N= 66). For both samples, high rearrest rates were documented during participants' original five-year probationary period—66% after two years and 80% after five years (N= 136). The recidivism rate for drunken driving was 40% after five years (N= 100). In toto, post-Program recidivists averaged more than five rearrests apiece. Offenses are scaled according to the National Survey of Crime Severity.