Abstract:
This study investigated, retrospectively, whether recidivism
in a sample of court-ordered'graduates of an alcohol
education and awareness program could be predicted. This
alcohol education program was based on adult education
principles and was philosophically akin to the thoughts of
Drs. Jack Mezirow, Stephen Brookfield, and Patricia Cranton.
Data on the sample of 214 Halton IDEA (Impaired Driver
Education and Awareness) graduates were entered into a
spread sheet. Descriptive statistics were generated. Each
of the 214 program graduates had taken several tests during
the course of the IDEA program. These tests measured
knowledge, attitude about impaired driving, and degree of
alcohol involvement. Test scores were analyzed to determine
whether those IDEA graduates who recidivated differed in any
measurable way from those who had no further criminal
convictions after a period of at least three years. Their
criminal records were obtained from the Canadian Police
Information Centre (CPIC). Those program graduates who
reoffended were compared to the vast majority who did not
reoffend. Results of the study indicated that there was no
way to determine who would recidivate from the data that
were collected. Further studies could use a qualitative
model. Follow-up interviews could be used to determine what
impact, if any, attendance at the IDEA program had on the
life of the graduates.
