As with the United States, England and Wales have a pervasive problem with alcohol related crimes. It is believed that excessive alcohol use contributes to a large percentage of violent crimes. London’s housing minister looked to South Dakota’s successful 24/7 Sobriety Program to combat the underlying issues with alcohol. The 24/7 sobriety program has a focus on treating the issues of addiction and reliance on alcohol instead of purely punishing an individual for a crime committed while under the influence. Participants are required to completely abstain from alcohol while they are being monitored. Monitoring is completed with the SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring bracelet.
The SCRAM CAM bracelet provides 24 hour a day, 7 days a week monitoring. The device tests for alcohol consumption every 30 minutes and has a success rate or sobriety rate of over 99% in most jurisdictions. Many courts using the alcohol monitoring technology have seen a reduction in drunk driving recidivism and alcohol-related crimes. It is hoped that with collaborative efforts such as the example set forth in the 24/7 sobriety program, there will be a reduction in violent crime including domestic abuse and child abuse.