title: DUI Countermeasures: differences between court jail sentences and jail time actually served and available alternative sanctions in select California counties.
abstract: METHODS
  Jail sentences and actual jail times were compared for 2006 California driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) offenders from select counties using matched data from Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), court, and sheriff databases. Additionally, alternative sanctions to jail were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Jail sentences reported by courts were consistently longer than actual jail time. Actual jail time percentages across participating counties ranged from 0 to 67% for 1st DUI offenders, 0 to 20% for 2nd offenders, and 0 to 66% for 3rd(+) offenders. Median percentages of jail sentences actually served across participating counties were 0%, 7%, and 22% for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd(+) DUI offenders, respectively. Alternative sentences were used more often for 1st DUI offenders and less so for 2nd and 3rd(+) offenders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caution is warranted regarding conclusions about jail ineffectiveness as a DUI deterrent from previous studies given that most were based on jail sentence or statutory lengths, which appear to overestimate actual jail times.
authors: California Department of Motor Vehicles, Research & Development Branch, MS - H126, 2570 24th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95818, United States. Electronic address: gloriam.guenzburger@dmv.ca.gov.
authors: Gloriam Vanine
authors: GV
authors: Guenzburger
authors: California Department of Motor Vehicles, Research & Development Branch, MS - H126, 2570 24th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95818, United States. Electronic address: debra.atkinson@dmv.ca.gov.
authors: Debra Barbiaux
authors: DB
authors: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003415:Crime / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcohol; DUI; Evaluation; Sentencing; Time served