Under the Limit drink driving rehabilitation program

Information for Solicitors, Magistrates, Probation and Parole Officers

This page contains information for solicitors, magistrates and probation and parole officers. 

If you are a participant, or want to do the UTL program, please visit the Participants page.

Solicitors - I want to refer my client to UTL

Magistrates - Why should I include UTL when sentencing?

Probation and Parole - I am monitoring a UTL participant

Solicitors - I want to refer my client to UTL

Your client may complete the program prior to sentencing, or you may request that the magistrate include Under the Limit when sentencing.

For more information please call Sue Taylor on 07 3138 8447 or email utladmin@qut.edu.au.

Magistrates - Why should I include UTL when sentencing?

The UTL Video gives a brief overview of the program and its benefits.

Why should I considering requesting a client complete the program as part of their sentence or include the Under the Limit program when sentencing a drink driving offender? 

An evaluation of the program completed in 1997-1998 concluded that the program reduced the rate of reoffending among the most serious drink driving offenders.  Serious offenders were classified as having both prior drink driving offences and a high BAC of over 0.15g/100ml (at the index offence).

The evaluation consisted of face-to-face interviews with 125 drink driving offenders at the time of their court appearance and again 9 months later.  The sample consisted of 62 offenders who undertook the UTL program and 63 offenders who acted as a control group.  The control group were drink driving offenders who were convicted of drink driving at the same Magistrates Court on the same day however were not directed to attend the program.

The interview schedule included measures identified in the literature as potentially contributing to recidivism.  These included socio-demography, mental health status, social support and self-esteem, questions pertaining to knowledge, attitudes and drink driving behaviours, and measures of alcohol problems.

The research identified that the program had a significant effect on the most serious offenders.  Of serious offenders group, individuals who completed the program had a reduced rate of recidivism of 55% in comparison to their counterparts who had not completed the program.  

The program is highly accessible for repeat drink drivers, as there are dozens of locations across Queensland where the program is delivered.  The program has a high completion rate.  Of the 236 participants who enrolled between January and June 2009, 80% of participants successfully completed the program.

I am considering requesting a client complete the program as part of their sentence. What are the conditions of the program?

The program consists of 11 weeks.  Participants are required to attend the first session of the program.  Of the 11 sessions, they are to complete 9 sessions to be deemed as successfully completing the program.  The offender is to attend the program without having consumed alcohol or illicit drugs prior to any session.

More information

This 2001 report to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau details the results of research evaluating the program: The impact of the “Under the Limit” drink driving rehabilitation program on the lifestyle and behaviour of offenders .

The UTL Brochure [PDF, 271KB] details the history of, and updates to, the program.  The UTL Newsletter June 2009 [PDF, 1.4MB], UTL Newsletter January 2010 [PDF, 1.05MB] and UTL Newsletter December 2010 [PDF, 255KB] give rates of completion, referrals to the program and rates of drink driving offences in Queensland.

The UTL flyer [PDF, 318KB] and UTL A3 poster [PDF, 362KB] are aimed at participants and potential participants.

Probation and Parole - I am monitoring a UTL participant

I’m a Probation and Parole Officer with an offender who is to commence the program. How will I know if the offender is attending the program?

The program rolls are sent to the relevant supervising officers on a weekly basis from the State Co-ordinator via email.  If the offender fails to attend the first session, they will be automatically suspended from the program.  A suspension letter will be sent to the relevant Probation and Parole Office.  If the offender has sufficient time to complete the program in the next round, you can consult with the State Co-ordinator to add the offender to the next program roll.

If the offender fails to attend on three sessions, they will be terminated from the program. Again, the relevant Probation and Parole Office will be advised if this occurs and a letter of termination will be sent for the record.

More information

Please refer to the detailed information available on the Queensland Department of Community Safety intranet.

Contact details

For more information please call Sue Taylor on 07 3138 8447 or email utladmin@qut.edu.au.