Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Victim Impact Panels Presented by Shannon White, SWO Injury Prevention Program

SWO Injury Prevention Program Goal: »To prevent motor vehicle crash related fatalities and injuries in young adults (ages 14-29) by implementing a public health strategy that employs the “4-E’s”: Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Environment to address causal factors of driving under the influence of alcohol and other substances, speed, and failing to use or properly use occupant restraints (seat belts and child safety seats).

What we are all about »Traffic Safety »Restraint Usage »Drinking and Driving »Speed »Increased focus on DUI enforcement led us to look for sentencing alternatives for these types of offenders

Checkpoints

Enforcement

DUI Enforcement (Tribal) »First year 170+ DUI’s »Second year 150 »Currently down

Victim Impact Panel »Collaboration with MADD Codington County »Once a month »1 hour »2-5 speakers or video “Gone Too Soon: Stories of Drinking and Driving on the Lake Traverse Reservation”

Victim Impact Panel »Tribal Judge sentenced, then Roberts County, now from surrounding states »Running since July 2005 »Evaluations collected since December of 2006 »138 attendees have filled out old format evaluations

Evaluation Results »Question #1: What thoughts and feelings did you experience as you listened to the speakers? »Top three answers were: »49% of those evaluated reported feeling sad or hurt for the families featured

Evaluations cont. »18% of those evaluated reported that listening to the speakers/video made them think of their own families »13% reported feeling remorse/guilty or bad about the drinking and driving choices they made

Evaluations cont. »Question #2: As a result of hearing the speakers, do you plan to change your drinking and driving behavior? »Top three answers were: »24% of those evaluated stated that they would change their behavior because they didn’t want to be responsible for the death of another person

Evaluations cont. »24% said they wouldn’t drink and drive anymore, would get a driver, make a plan or stay home and drink »18% reported that they would change their behaviors for their families

Victim Impact Panels »The evaluation form is being rewritten for better data gathering »A follow up survey is being considered by the CIPT

Upcoming projects »D.U.I. classes at the request of new Magistrate »The V.I.P. will be rolled into this »Ignition Interlock pilot project

Thank You!

Shannon White Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Injury Prevention Specialist 100 Lake Traverse Dr. Sisseton, SD (P)