PurposeThe Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) is conducting a study to explore currentknowledge and practices relating to the risk assessment of impaired driving offenders in Canada.This project is funded by a team grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)that supports a transdisciplinary program of research examining DWI onset, persistence,prevention and treatment. Different types of risk assessments of impaired drivers occur withinthe criminal justice system and the administrative driver licensing system. The justice systemfunctions in accordance with Federal law and is uniformly applied across Canada. Conversely,the licensing of drivers is administered by provincial authorities. As such, available remedialprograms, education/treatment services and re-licensing practices can vary substantially.The purpose of this project is to: 1) gauge knowledge among justice and licensing professionalsregarding effective risk assessment tools and practices; 2) to examine the use of riskassessment procedures in both systems; and, 3) to identify and explore barriers that impede theuse of effective risk assessment strategies. The goal is to develop an educational primer toshare critical research on the risk assessment of impaired drivers, to create a common body ofknowledge, and help put research into practice.MethodsFocus groups are being conducted across Canada to hear from justice professionals, treatmentstaff, remedial program and licensing staff that are engaged in the risk assessment and manageimpaired drivers. The aim of the focus groups is: 1) to determine the current state of knowledgeregarding risk assessments; 2) to inventory risk assessment instruments, tools and strategiesthat are currently applied to impaired driving offenders; and, 3) to identify weaknesses/barriersthat practitioners routinely encounter in the process. Based on the focus groups outcomes, asurvey may be used to gather additional information and further explore relevant content for theprimer.
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