Jul 16, 2002 2 min read

MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) – One Crawford County judge hopes that writing a well-researched essay will make drunken drivers think twice before again getting behind the wheel after drinking.

Judge John Spataro said that he was looking for a way to make drunken driving offenders really think about their crimes. So he has decided to include essays as part of his sentences for those convicted on drunken driving charges. “It occurred to me it may be a way to add something extra (to the sentence) to make them think a little more,” Spataro said. “I hope they take the time to reflect on the impact it had on others.”

Spataro came up with the idea when he had a 22-year-old standing before him on a second driving under the influence conviction.

“I thought, my goodness, how can we help?” Spataro said.

He now instructs all first- and second-time offenders to research the issue and write the essay as part of their parole. Failure to complete the essay or turning in an unsatisfactory one may result in parole being revoked.

Individuals must submit a double-spaced, typewritten essay about the impact their actions had on their lives and on the lives of others.

The essays must address how the drunken driving conviction affected the person, members of their family and friends.

They also must address what the person could have done to avoid the problem, such as not drinking, using a designated driver or “anything else you can come up with.”

At least four of the 10 pages must profile the life of a person who was killed because of a drunken driver.

“You are to describe the person or persons killed, how old they were at the time of their death and how their death affected their surviving family members,” Spataro said.

If people write something down, they remember it more easily, Spataro said. He said he isn’t looking for exceptional writing skills, only a “sincere response to the areas of inquiry.”

The essays also help Spataro track the people he sentences.

“It’s important I take an interest and (that) they learn a lesson. I want to be more involved than simply sentencing a person and saying that’s it. It takes extra time to drive home the seriousness of the offense and it helps me,” Spataro said.