Increasing public confidence in Romanian probation system by developing the optimal social reintegration programmes for drink-driving offenders
| Author | Andra-Maria Buta-Duțuc,Teodora-Ștefana Perticaș |
| DOI | 10.1177/2066220320976102 |
| Published date | 01 August 2021 |
| Date | 01 August 2021 |
| Subject Matter | Original Articles |
2021, Vol. 13(2) 111 –144
https://doi.org/10.1177/2066220320976102
European Journal of Probation
© The Author(s) 2020
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/2066220320976102
journals.sagepub.com/home/ejp
Increasing public confidence
in Romanian probation
system by developing the
optimal social reintegration
programmes for
drink-driving offenders
Andra-Maria Buta-Duțuc
and Teodora-Ștefana Perticaș
Cluj Probation Service, Romania
Abstract
The laudable evolution of the Romanian criminal punishment system from prison
to non-custodial sanctions applied to drink-driving offenders is a sign of political
and judicial institutional confidence, but the responsibility of becoming more and
more efficient and trustworthy for the community still lies on Romanian probation.
We examined the capacity of probation services in dealing with a considerably
large number of drink-driving offenders and in developing specific rehabilitation
programmes for them. Further on, we analysed whether there is a correspondence
between the drink-driving offender’s profile and the intervention measures used. To
succeed in this endeavour, we used the documentary analysis and the questionnaire
method. To conclude, we noticed that the social reintegration programmes applied
for drink-driving offenders in Romania generally correspond to the offender’s
profile, but their application is hampered by the limited resources. Despite these
impediments, the Romanian Probation System has gained the courts confidence and
its position in the community has strengthened.
Keywords
Drink-driving offenders, offender profile, social reintegration programmes,
strengthening Romanian probation
Corresponding author:
Andra-Maria Buta-Duțuc, 4 Calea Dorobantilor Street, Chamber 5, Cluj-Napoca, 400121, Romania.
Email: andramariabuta@gmail.com
976102EJP0010.1177/2066220320976102European Journal of ProbationButa-Duțuc and Perticaș
2020
Original Article
112 European Journal of Probation 13(2)
2 European Journal of Probation 00(0)
Purpose of study. Research methods. Limitations.
Motivation
Purpose of study
(a) To outline the Romanian drink-driving offender’s profile;
(b) To analyse the intervention measures used for drink-driving offender’s rehabilita-
tion and social reintegration;
(c) To examine if there is a correspondence between offender profile and reintegra-
tion programmes;
(d) To think about new perspectives for developing reintegration programmes,
including community institutions involvement.
Research methods
Within our study, we used multiple research methods. First of all, we began with the
analysis of the national database, between 2015 and 2018, regarding the road traffic
offences (55,109 cases), in general, and drink-driving offences, in particular. Second, in
order to understand the Romanian socio-cultural context of alcohol consumption in asso-
ciation with driving, we administrated a 20 – question questionnaire to 408 people from
every Romanian region and we interpreted their answers. Last but not least, we studied
probation files and other research works in the field.
Limitations of study
Regarding drink-driving offences, the national database does not distinguish between the
type of substance used (alcohol or drug). The explanation is that driving under the influ-
ence of alcohol and driving under the influence of drugs are incriminated by the same
article of the Criminal Code, but in two different paragraphs. However, the national
database refers only to the article that incriminates DUI (driving under influence), with-
out referring to the two paragraphs of the article.
Motivation
One of the reasons for choosing this topic is the large number of drink-driving offenders
under the Romanian Probation Services’ supervision. We noticed that there was a need to
understand the drink-driving offender’s profile in order to design appropriate interven-
tions for its social reintegration.
First, according to the 2018 Activity Report of Romanian Probation System (National
Probation Directorate, 2018), from the point of view of the offences committed by the
persons under probation, a serious reversal had occurred: in 2014, the persons were pre-
dominantly sanctioned for patrimonial crimes, while in 2018, a consistent group of people
who committed crimes against the safety of traffic on public roads prevailed. Analysing the
Figure 1, it can be noticed that the road offences in Romanian Probation System represent
47% of the total number of crimes.
Second, analysing the national databases from 2015 to 2018 (55,109 cases), it can be
seen that, of all road offences, the drink-driving offences predominate (Figure 2).
Buta-Duțuc and Perticaș 113
2 European Journal of Probation 00(0)
Purpose of study. Research methods. Limitations.
Motivation
Purpose of study
(a) To outline the Romanian drink-driving offender’s profile;
(b) To analyse the intervention measures used for drink-driving offender’s rehabilita-
tion and social reintegration;
(c) To examine if there is a correspondence between offender profile and reintegra-
tion programmes;
(d) To think about new perspectives for developing reintegration programmes,
including community institutions involvement.
Research methods
Within our study, we used multiple research methods. First of all, we began with the
analysis of the national database, between 2015 and 2018, regarding the road traffic
offences (55,109 cases), in general, and drink-driving offences, in particular. Second, in
order to understand the Romanian socio-cultural context of alcohol consumption in asso-
ciation with driving, we administrated a 20 – question questionnaire to 408 people from
every Romanian region and we interpreted their answers. Last but not least, we studied
probation files and other research works in the field.
Limitations of study
Regarding drink-driving offences, the national database does not distinguish between the
type of substance used (alcohol or drug). The explanation is that driving under the influ-
ence of alcohol and driving under the influence of drugs are incriminated by the same
article of the Criminal Code, but in two different paragraphs. However, the national
database refers only to the article that incriminates DUI (driving under influence), with-
out referring to the two paragraphs of the article.
Motivation
One of the reasons for choosing this topic is the large number of drink-driving offenders
under the Romanian Probation Services’ supervision. We noticed that there was a need to
understand the drink-driving offender’s profile in order to design appropriate interven-
tions for its social reintegration.
First, according to the 2018 Activity Report of Romanian Probation System (National
Probation Directorate, 2018), from the point of view of the offences committed by the
persons under probation, a serious reversal had occurred: in 2014, the persons were pre-
dominantly sanctioned for patrimonial crimes, while in 2018, a consistent group of people
who committed crimes against the safety of traffic on public roads prevailed. Analysing the
Figure 1, it can be noticed that the road offences in Romanian Probation System represent
47% of the total number of crimes.
Second, analysing the national databases from 2015 to 2018 (55,109 cases), it can be
seen that, of all road offences, the drink-driving offences predominate (Figure 2).
Buta-Duțuc and Perticaș 3
Third, the number of drink-driving offences increased by more than twice, from 8471
cases registered in 2015 to 17,879 cases in 2018 (Figure 3). Moreover, according to the
Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics – Space II (Aebi and Hashimoto, 2018: 89–
90) the flow of entries for road traffic offences is 15,403, ranking Romania on second
place in Europe. By comparison, the lowest flow is 57 entries in Greece (excepting
Monaco with 5 and Malta with 11), while the highest is in the United Kingdom – England
and Wales, 20,688 entries.
Last reason for deciding on this particular research topic is represented by the fact that
Romania ranks first in Europe for the number of deaths as a result of road accidents
(European statistics).
Figure 1. Offences categories – 2018.
Figure 2. Categories of road traffic offences.
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
