Substance Abuse Evaluations (SASSI) in DWI cases
I have always been bothered by one of the ramifications of a DWI conviction: The Substance Abuse Evaluation.
I am all for the premise and theory behind it.
If you are place on probation following a conviction for DWI, you are required by law to take a substance abuse evaluation, and perform any conditions imposed. This can be something as small as "no alcohol while on probation," or larger (very time consuming) things like attending AA several times per week, or going to an intensive inpatient or outpatient program.
The point of requiring counseling for DWI offenders is obvious. I have no problem with that. Also, the premise that a counselor makes the decisions instead of a judge or prosecutor makes sense as well. Us lawyers (or "law talking guys") do not necessarily know what the best treatment plan.
Here is the problem: The offender is usually simply given a short, one page "SASSI - Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory." It is described by the maker as "A one-page paper and pencil test that identifies people who suffer from substance dependence." This simple quiz, magically can tell what a person's substance problems are, and how to fix them. Oh yeah, even according to SASSI information, training required for administration, is checked off "No."
The reason this came up to me, was a client of mine that was placed on probation took this quiz. Then, after about a 10 minute multiple choice quiz, he was ordered by the court to attend an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment program. This was way more than he bargained for. Oh yeah, he is required to pay for it as well (the SASSI and the treatment program).
I couldn't help but feel that it was unjust that this occurred after his negotiated plea. Not only that, I was troubled by how a one page multiple choice quiz could so vastly affect someones life time wise and monetarily.
When I spoke to the counselor about my client's recommended treatment, I asked him if I could take a look at one of the blank tests. I really just wanted to see it so I could prepare my clients for what they are in for if they are convicted. I was told, that I was not allowed to see one.
Funny thing is, I went online, and found several places to order the SASSI forms from. I have contemplated ordering a some, along with posting the "good answers." I was actually pretty surprised I couldn't find anything about suggested (or not suggested) answers online. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.
I'm curious if any other attorneys have run into major problems with the SASSI quiz.
I am all for the premise and theory behind it.
If you are place on probation following a conviction for DWI, you are required by law to take a substance abuse evaluation, and perform any conditions imposed. This can be something as small as "no alcohol while on probation," or larger (very time consuming) things like attending AA several times per week, or going to an intensive inpatient or outpatient program.
The point of requiring counseling for DWI offenders is obvious. I have no problem with that. Also, the premise that a counselor makes the decisions instead of a judge or prosecutor makes sense as well. Us lawyers (or "law talking guys") do not necessarily know what the best treatment plan.
Here is the problem: The offender is usually simply given a short, one page "SASSI - Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory." It is described by the maker as "A one-page paper and pencil test that identifies people who suffer from substance dependence." This simple quiz, magically can tell what a person's substance problems are, and how to fix them. Oh yeah, even according to SASSI information, training required for administration, is checked off "No."
The reason this came up to me, was a client of mine that was placed on probation took this quiz. Then, after about a 10 minute multiple choice quiz, he was ordered by the court to attend an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment program. This was way more than he bargained for. Oh yeah, he is required to pay for it as well (the SASSI and the treatment program).
I couldn't help but feel that it was unjust that this occurred after his negotiated plea. Not only that, I was troubled by how a one page multiple choice quiz could so vastly affect someones life time wise and monetarily.
When I spoke to the counselor about my client's recommended treatment, I asked him if I could take a look at one of the blank tests. I really just wanted to see it so I could prepare my clients for what they are in for if they are convicted. I was told, that I was not allowed to see one.
Funny thing is, I went online, and found several places to order the SASSI forms from. I have contemplated ordering a some, along with posting the "good answers." I was actually pretty surprised I couldn't find anything about suggested (or not suggested) answers online. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough.
I'm curious if any other attorneys have run into major problems with the SASSI quiz.
Four alcohol screening instruments (the AUDIT, CAGE, MAST, and Svanum's scale) were administered to a sample of 306 undergraduate students at a Midwestern university and were compared with regard to several test characteristics, using the alcohol section of the CIDI-SAM (DSM-IV version) as the criterion measure.
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Dolly
Medical Malpractice Info
Anything as open ended as this should be a part of the plea process.
Hunter,
So far I have not run into any issues.
Hi Hunter,
You might be interested in this post -- it's multi-part, and I just posted the first part today, but will include more detail later:
http://feistygeek.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-one-might-want-to-pass-sassi.html
Let me know what you think!
It seems like defendants really get screwed on this SASSI business. If you don't prep your clients on what the SASSI is, you will find marginal cases of 1st time DUI defendants will get sucked in to a 16 week intensive outpatient program. But a defendant with a few DUIS will be found to have his problem "in remission" if he knows how to answer the questions and goes to the right place
I had to take this test because I had made the mistake of smoking pot a few times and was going through a custody battle. Yes I was wrong for smoking but by no means an unfit parent. They stated the results of the test lead them to beleive, and I quote, "We feel like you answered the way you thought we wanted it answered, so you failed." I answered honestly and was ordered to six months!!!! of extensive drug counseling. Is there really a right or wrong answer or do they just decide off of their own opinion of you?
I am a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor and I have used the SASSI and it updates in my practice for nearly 20 years. For the most part the SASSI is not based on specific answers to particular questions, rather patterns of the answers to groups of questions. The test is quite accurate, well over 90%. It misses more people with a problem than falsely identifying someone with a problem that does not have a substance related issue. However, no evaluation should be based solely on one test instrument. SASSI institute states that "In addition to test results, supplemental clinical information is required to meet the accepted standards for a DSM-IV clinical diagnosis of a substance abuse disorder". In order to purchase the SASSI you need to be a qualified substance abuse counselor and be trained by a qualified SASSI trainer. In Our state at least two assessment instruments must be used for the DUI evaluation. Maybe your client did not mention everything that led to the diagnosis established by his evaluation.