THE MATRIX IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A TOOL FOR JUDGES HANDLINGDRUNK-DRIVING CASES.

THE MATRIX IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A TOOL FOR JUDGES HANDLINGDRUNK-DRIVING CASES. IT WOULD PROVIDE A MEANS OF SUMMARIZINGINFORMATION COLLECTED BY PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATORS INTO A FORM WHICH COULD BE EASILY ASSIMILATED AND ACTED UPON BY THE JUDGES, MAN F WHOM MUST HANDLE DOZENS OF DRUNK-DRIVING CASES EACH DAY. TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE MATRIX MUST PROVIDE A RAPID AND ACCURATE METHOD FOR SUMMARIZING INFORMATION ON (1) THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE, AND (2) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE DRINKING DRIVER HAS AN ALCHOL DEPENDENCY PROBLEM. THE MATRIX WOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE COURTS IN THE FORM OF A SIMPLE STEP-BY-STEP MANUAL WHICH SUPPORT PERSONNEL COULD USE TO PROVIDE THE JUDGE WITH A SUMMARY OF EACH OFFENDER'S STATUS. AN EFFECTIVE DWI SANCTIONING MATRIX SHOULD PROVIDE A GUIDE TO UNCOVERING THE RELEVENT BACKGROUND, INFORMATION ON OFFENDERS WHICH IS NEEDED TO INSURE EFFECTIVE SENTENCING.IT SHOULD ALSO OBJECTIFY THE SENTENCING PROCESS, MAKING THE UNDERLYING REASONS FOR THE SPECIFIC SANCTIONS APPLIED CLEARER, BOTH TO THE COURT AND THE OFFENDER. FINALLY AN AN EFFECTIVE SANCTIONS MATRIX SHOULD PROMOTE EQUITY IN SENTENCING BY INSURING THAT THE SANCTIONS CHOSE ARE RELEVENTTO THESERIOUSNESS OF OFFENSE AND DRINKING STATUS.