Do risk factors for re-arrest differ for female and male drunk-driving offenders?

Background: The present study investigated gender differences in factors af fecting recidivism among 628 female and 659 male drunk-driving offenders. T he study population included residents from New Mexico who completed a scre ening program for offenders and who were still residents when contacted 5 y ears later. Method: Risk factors for re-arrest in the 5-year period after screening ref erral were examined using multiple logistic regression models. Predictor va riables included gender, age, ethnicity, education, marital status, blood a lcohol concentration at arrest, parental alcohol problems, spousal alcohol problems, lifetime use of cannabis, cocaine, or amphetamines, abusive behav ior toward spouse, and scores on two standardized assessments. Results: Risk factors for re-arrest were similar for males and females exce pt that young age predicted higher recidivism among males but not females. The overall 5-year re-arrest rate was 26%-20% for women, 38% for males age 30 and under, and 24% for males age 31 and older. Conclusions: Young age predicts re-arrest for males but not for females. Ne ither the type of risk factors nor the number of risk factors fully explain ed female offenders' disproportionately lower recidivism rates, compared wi th young males.