Predicting Recidivism of Male Offenders with Driving under Influence in a Correctional Setting in Taiwan

Abstract

Objectives: Alcohol consumption is a public health challenge, contributing to the global burden of diseases and about three million deaths worldwide in 2016. Drunk driving has great morbidity, mortality, and social consequences. In this study, we intended to identify predictors of recidivism among male driving under influence (DUI) offenders and to focus on the interplay between sociodemographic factors, alcohol or tobacco use, and other health risk behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was done in male DUI offenders referred from the Tainan Detention Center, Tainan, Taiwan, between January 2014 and June 2018. We used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Drug-taking Confidence Questionnaire-8 for Alcohol to assess study participants’ alcohol consumption patterns and coping self-efficacy. We also did logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of drunk driving recidivism and to examine factors of sociodemographic characteristics, smoking habits, and other health risk behaviors. Results: The study included 1,435 male participants, with a recidivism rate of 10%. Factors significantly associated with recidivism included lower education levels (p < 0.01), unemployment (p < 0.01), and tobacco use (p < 0.01). The results of logistic regression on those variables showed that tobacco use, odd ratio [OR] (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 11.07 (3.14–39.02), p < 0.01, and unemployed individuals, OR (95% CI) = 6.8 (4.48–10.3), p < 0.01, had significantly higher odds of recidivism. Conclusion: This study identifies key predictors of male DUI recidivism, emphasizing that individuals who are unemployed, with taboo use, and who have lower levels of education are more likely to be recidivists. The recurrence of drunk driving among individuals who also use tobacco suggests that tobacco use might influence the risk of driving under the influence of alcohol, a relationship that warrants further exploration. Recidivist offenders have specific characteristics, indicating that the therapeutic interventions are necessary for considering the circumstances of individual cases.

Keywords

• alcohol use disorders; health risk behaviors; sociodemographic factors; tobacco use disorder