Recidivism following interlock: any evidence of change?

The state of Floridars interlock program, which requires a period of license revocation before installing the interlock, offered an opportunity to study recidivism under three conditions: (a) during the license revocation period before entering the interlock program; (b) while on the interlock; and (c) during the post-interlock period when the offenderrs license was restored. This study had two aims: (a) To determine factors associated with the reduction in recidivism for offenders moving from a revoked-license condition to driving an interlock-equipped vehicle, and (b) To determine the factors associated with the rise in recidivism for offenders after the removal of the interlock and the restoration of their license status. Using Cox regression, interlock program records of 33,446 first-time, impaired-driving offenders in Florida were analyzed as they moved from license revocation to driving on an interlock to postinterlock status. While their licenses were revoked, the first offenders exhibited a 2.3 per cent annual recidivism rate. Once they moved on to the interlock program, the annual recidivism rate dropped to 0.4 per cent. In the 4 years following interlock removal, the recidivism rate returned to the 2 per cent level. Offenders on interlocks whose time on the device was extended based on poor interlock performance had 4 per cent annual recidivism rates. The data suggest that the extent to which offendersr recidivism rates increase following interlock removal can be identified by variables available to program managers.