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Female Drunk Drivers: A Qualitative Study

Female Drunk Drivers: A Qualitative Study

The number of women arrested for DUI has increased by almost 30% since the late 1990s, yet existing research is outdated and male-centric. In an effort to fill these gaps and increase understanding of the problem, Responsibility.org sponsored a follow-up exploratory case study in 2012 by TIRF.

The research revealed that while men continue to be responsible for the majority of impaired driving, drunk driving arrests among females of all ages continue to increase with many of these DUI offenders having BAC levels equal to, or higher than their male counterparts. This in-depth examination of female DUI offenders revealed important findings. Female drunk drivers are a problem that is worthy of our attention, and more research about what works with this population is needed. In particular, greater understanding of what supervision strategies lead to successful completion of probation and what components of treatment produce better outcomes can guide efforts to address this problem in the form of policies, programs, and interventions.

To learn more about the characteristics and the intervention and service needs of female drunk drivers,  access the full report or executive summary.

View a National Judicial College webinar delivered by Erin Holmes. This webcast delves into the research behind why alcohol-related issues affect women differently than men, provides an overview of the unique characteristics of female drunk drivers, offender typologies, and the pathways to offending, and offers recommendations to improve the supervision and treatment of female DUI offenders.