Impaired driving risk assessment of first and repeat offenders and knowledge transfer in Canada

The purpose of this research was to provide: i) an overview of risk assessment practices for impaired drivers across Canadian driver licensing and criminal justice systems, ii) a snapshot of knowledge among practitioners, and iii) insight into barriers that inhibit knowledge transfer and ways to address them. Focus groups and key informant interviews were conducted with administrative impaired driver program staff and criminal justice professionals in five Canadian jurisdictions. A small survey of justice professionals representing six jurisdictions was also conducted. Results were analyzed using a Delphi panel approach and peer review. Results identified some strengths with risk assessment practices in the driver licensing system; fewer strengths were evident in the justice system. Concerns about current risk assessment practices include training, types of instruments used, caseloads, and the measurement of program outcomes and effectiveness. Strategies to improve practices and overcome barriers to knowledge transfer were recommended. More research on first and repeat impaired driver risks and risk assessment instruments is needed. Increased efforts among researchers to disseminate research to practitioners, or partner with those who can, would strengthen risk assessment practices. This is essential given the number of impaired drivers processed annually and the profound costs of delivering interventions that fail to address the risk that offenders pose.