Evaluation of the Presecuting Attorneys' Association of Michigan Traffic Safety Training Program; Final rept

摘要

The purpose of the study reported here was to evaluate the Prosecuting Attorneys of Michigan Traffic Safety Training Program (TSTP). The main objective of the TSTP is to improve the ability of the states prosecutors to effectively prosecute violations of traffic safety laws by training new prosecutors in basic skills of prosecution applied to traffic safety law, and by assisting experienced prosecutors with prosecution of more complex traffic safety violations. The program provides training seminars, up-to-date reference materials, newsletters, advice, consultation, and technical assistance to prosecutors. It fosters communication between prosecutors and the traffic safety community through meetings, a website, and a Listserv group. A review of the TSTP for FY 2001-FY 2006 indicates that activities were thoroughly documented and consistently carried out as planned. There were a total of 1,814 attendees at the training seminars in the 6 years from 2001 to 2006, with about one-third from law enforcement. Although quantitative measures for the effectiveness were explored and pilot tested, unwillingness of prosecutors to participate in reviews of their cases, because of busy schedules, precluded a quantitative assessment of program outcomes. Instead, a survey of prosecutors (40 respondents) was carried out. Survey results indicate that prosecutors, who participated in the program are very positive about the program, report that they have applied lessons learned in the seminars to their work, and feel more confident and comfortable prosecuting impaired driving cases. However, because self-reported measures were used, the study cannot conclusively state that the program resulted in more effective prosecution of impaired driving cases. Future evaluation efforts would benefit from further development of quantitative measures, and effective strategies for getting prosecutors to participate in a quantitative evaluation, which would require review of actual cases.