| DUI: Is Jail Time the Best Answer? | |
A long-time supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has suggested to the organization that pushing jail sentences for DUI offenses may not always be the best solution.
The following letter, written by the mother of a youthful offender, explains how in some cases, jail time can be counterproductive, and suggests other alternatives that might be better solutions.
Dear MADD Members and Supporters,
For several years I displayed a MADD bumper sticker on my car, as educational 'amends' for my own past drinking and driving.
I hadn't (yet) gone to jail for driving after drinking, but did have treatment and recovery fellowship and hopefully will be abstinent 20 years as of November 17, 2000. (Before that, some lapses had taught me more about loss of control with decision-making after drinking began -- the hallmark of an impaired ability to metabolize alcohol). I've been fortunate not to have been part of the tragic problem of alcohol-impaired drivers on our highways for almost 20 years, thank goodness!
Unfortunately, my son also suffered with alcohol dependency, developed in friends' homes when my home was 'dry,' partly in his efforts to self-medicate a still-undiagnosed mood disorder. After one harrowing time in jail following a relapse, he worked hard to recover and earned several sobriety medallions.
Unfortunately, in undue stress he eventually relapsed and drove after drinking... but could not remember getting into the car! (I believe him, as it happened to me)... and no one stopped him from driving. He was grateful not to have tragically killed or hurt someone while driving in a black-out!
Also tragically, not long afterward, although again sober, he misdosed poorly monitored SSRI antidepressants and died in a collision in 1997, two days before a much-feared DUI court date. (Fortunately in this instance, no one else was injured, but easily might have been.)
If my son's fear of jail seems too 'dramatic,' may I just note that many jails remain, even in this day and age, filled with abuses not only by inmates who may be sociopathic and/or disturbed and violent, but too often by insufficiently trained and poorly monitored guards who think all inmates are sociopathic - which is not the case. (Documentaton of such abuses in our jails remains difficult to obtain but does exist.)
Continuing Vision
While jail may be a powerful wake-up call to people not afflicted with addictive disease, I believe the jail environment too often can be counterproductive for people who are ill with addictive diseases and/or mental illnesses. I would like to see MADD advocate the following measures, to 'update' its continuing vision:1) Promote sentencing to treatment centers for those who appear to be dependent on alcohol and/or mentally ill.Deeply hopeful of seeing some of these suggestions implemented, I shall watch for publicity from MADD along those lines, and if any real interest in these areas is shown, I shall certainly donate to the cause, to further such measures.
2) Step-up campaigns to take car keys away from anyone who's had more than 2 alcohol drinks if they want to drive, and insist on a substitute driver. (As people have varying tolerances for alcohol, after a couple of drinks it's just not possible to predict level of impairment. Such cases are not publicized, but many fatal accidents involve people who are not legally intoxicated.)
3) Campaign to remind people on medications that many medications, too, can impair reflexes and judgment while driving. (And encourage substitute drivers, when people on medication seem impaired and/or warning labels are on meds.)
4) Advocate humane guidelines for jail and prison personnel, along with adequate training and monitoring.
Thank you for your attention, and for your caring. I continue to be so deeply sorry for your tragic losses at the hands of impaired drivers on our highways. My tender thoughts are with you all through the coming holidays, and through the coming years without our precious children.
Very sincerely,
Another Grieving Parent
