DWI court program reaches adult impaired drivers at different stages of drug abuse

Project Characteristics Program Areas Targets hard-to-reach/at risk population Innovative or non-traditional approach Alcohol and Other Drugs Safe Communities Targeted Audience Jurisdiction Adult Impaired Driving Offenders County

Goals

• Intense supervision by a DWI/Drug Court probation officer
• Mandatory alcohol/drug treatment for offenders
• Random drug testing
• Community service
• Frequent appearances before the DWI/Drug Court Judge

Strategies

To help reduce recidivism among adult DWI/Drug offenders in Bernalillo County, the Bernalillo County Metro Court developed the DWI/Drug Court Program. In New Mexico, a Metropolitan Court has the same jurisdiction as a combined magistrate and municipal court. The Bernalillo County Metro Court organized the DWI/Drug Court Program to reach offenders at different stages of substance abuse. A minimum of nine months is required for a participant to complete all aspects of the program.

The DWI/Drug Court Program is voluntary, however, once an offender agrees to participate, non-compliance with any aspect of the program will result in several different sanctions, including jail time, loss of program points, increased treatment services, or having to repeat all program activities. Each participant receives a handbook outlining the program requirements, and explaining the point system used by the court. A reward system is used for participants who pay all fees on time, have consistently negative urinalysis results and successfully complete each program activity. After successfully completing all facets of the program, participants are eligible for a mentor/sponsorship program. The majority of program participants are employed males, with a high school education or higher. The program helps provide the intense supervision and treatment services necessary to successfully treat substance abuse.

Results

• Since its inception, more than 400 impaired driving offenders have participated in the DWI/Drug Court Program. A total of 250 have successfully completed all program activities. The program maintains a retention rate of 70 percent.
• The DWI/Drug Court Program has achieved a recidivism rate of 9.6 percent for impaired driving offenders in Bernalillo County.