AHORRO EN COSTOS DE PERFORACION

they initially began their period of supervision, they tried to manipulate the system and made excuses to avoid doing what was required of them. In such cases, these women acknowledged that this only prolonged their period of supervision and/or resulted in additional offenses, and that their life only began to improve once they learned to adhere to the requirements of their supervision.

At the same time, many women also emphasized the importance of fairness and balance in relation to the approach adopted by the practitioner, and the value of practitioners working with them to help them problem-solve and manage their risks to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

A minority of participants indicated that their experiences with supervision were mainly negative and that they were not able to develop a rapport with the practitioner supervising their case. In these instances, participants indicated they did not feel like they received enough information to be able to comply with the requirements of supervision and reported feeling unmotivated, discouraged, and depressed as a result of the process. One participant noted that, “For a person to get well, they need to feel worthy; I never left my probation officer feeling good about myself.”

Finally, while an estimated one-quarter of the study participants noted that it was preferable to have a female practitioner supervise them, a larger proportion reported that it was not the gender of the practitioner that was an issue, but instead their ability to develop a good rapport with them. Some participants also stated that having a male probation officer who is supportive had a positive impact in their life because they had previously had only negative or abusive relationships with men.

Cost. Almost all of the study participants indicated that the overall cost of their arrest and subsequent supervision were quite substantial, and a majority of them reported that, combined, the payment of lawyer fees, court and supervision costs, fees for services, and fines were overwhelming and difficult to handle. It was not uncommon for participants to report that there were often “hidden” or unexpected costs associated with their supervision requirements. To illustrate, more than a few women reported that they were surprised to find out they had to pay a fee in order to complete their community service requirement. The ongoing fees associated with ignition interlock devices and urinalysis were highlighted as particularly cumbersome.

Female Drunk Driver Results FEMALE DRUNK DRIVERS |A QUALITATIVE STUDY 32

Inadequate services for random testing. It is estimated that more than half of the participants reported challenges specifically in relation to compliance with random testing requirements. In many of the jurisdictions, women reported that there was only one testing facility available, and this facility was typically only open during regular business hours and often could not be easily accessed using public transportation. According to participants, this made it quite difficult for them to reach the facility either before or after work. Moreover, they often reported that they had to have cash on hand to cover the costs of both testing and/or transportation in the event they were randomly selected.

A minority of participants also reported challenges in identifying the reason why some of their test results came back as “dilutes.”7 _{This was a source} of concern given that this result could result in sanctions. A number of participants indicated that such results were due to diets and “cleanses,” and that, while some probation officers provided assistance to help them avoid such results, others were just told to “figure it out.”

Additionally, a few older women reported considerable discomfort with the random testing process and being observed when providing a urine sample to probation officers. They noted that older women may experience bladder control issues and find it difficult and embarrassing to provide a sample for testing immediately while under observation. They indicated that more sensitivity in such situations would be helpful to mitigate this problem. Limited transportation options. An estimated three-quarter of study participants reported that finding or obtaining transportation, which was essential to their ability to complete the requirements of their sentence and supervision, was very challenging. They further noted that the additional costs for transportation (as a result of loss of licensure) were also substantial, particularly in rural jurisdictions where public transportation options are limited. A few women reported having to sell their house and move into town in order to access limited public transportation because they were unable to afford the costs of taxis, and they could not rely upon family members, friends, or neighbors for rides.

7 Dilution is the process of reducing the concentration of drug or drug metabolites in a urine sample. This result may occur intentionally or unintentionally, although sanctions may be imposed on offenders for such a result, particularly if it is a repeated occurrence.

FEMALE DRUNK DRIVERS |A QUALITATIVE STUDY Female Drunk Driver Results

33