Demographic Characteristics of DWI Offenders in Texas
Author(s):
S.G. Schrank, N.H. Mounce
Publication Date:
August 1993
Abstract:
The changing demographic composition of the state emphasizes the need to identify those segments of the population that are overrepresented in Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Public Intoxication (PI) arrests. The identification of specific counties where such overrepresentations occur is needed to enhance countermeasure development and potential effectiveness.
In a previous TTI study, DWI and PI arrest data for a sample of Texas cities were compared to a sample of cities in Arkansas (Windbigler, Brackett, and Pateder, 1989). It was noted that the ratios of DWI and PI arrests in Texas and Arkansas were remarkably different. Additionally, the authors noted that Hispanics were significantly overrepresented among those arrested for DWI and those arrested for PI in Texas while Whites were significantly underrepresented in both populations. No other attempt has yet been made to more thoroughly document the demographic characteristics of the DWI and PI populations in Texas. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify counties in which there appears to be an overrepresentation of Hispanics and/ or Blacks among DWI and PI arrestees.
Report Number:
TTI-1993-29
Electronic Link(s):
Document/Product
http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/TTI-1993-ID19835.pdf
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