DUI Court Works To Help Offenders And The Community

(CHATHAM COUNTY, February 11, 2010) In 2008 - 416 people died in Georgia in traffic accidents involving alcohol, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimates about a third of those arrested for drunk driving each and every year are repeat offenders. How do you stop such a vicious cycle? In Chatham County it's called DUI court…and for some people, it's really working.

Katy Bogart is graduating from Chatham County's DUI court. She wound up there after making the decision to drink and drive, “I not only did that once, I did it three times and I ended up getting 3 DUIs.” In less than two years. She could have faced a long jail sentence...but instead made a good decision to change her life. David Wood, a former police officer, is the DUI Program Coordinator who says, “The whole idea behind the DUI court is to get the individual into treatment. Everyone who comes to us is a multiple offender, so everyone who comes to us is in need of some sort of treatment, substance abuse treatment.”

Experts say many won't stay in treatment voluntarily. That's where this court is different says Wood, “Here in DUI court, we're using the muscle of the court to insure that the person goes to treatment, engages in treatment, and stays in treatment for the long term. The longer we can keep them in treatment, the better the chance of success.” The program is offered post-conviction - so there's no reduction of charge, but they can reduce jail time and earn credit towards community service hours. Most importantly, they get support to stop drinking and driving. “For a lot of people with substance abuse issues, jail is not going to solve that problem. Jail alone is not going to do it - what's going to do it is getting that person involved in treatment, in a sober environment, in hopes that we can stop them from going back to jail ever for anything,” says Wood.

It's a difficult journey with an individualized treatment plan involving frequent group counseling sessions, 12-step meetings, random drug testing, and regular trips to court...even occasional visits to your home by deputies. Bogart says, “You know you think you can cheat the system is what you think you can do, but then you hear that the sheriff's can come to your house at any time they want and give you a breathalyzer.” Those who don't meet the requirements face sanctions, which can include jail time. A sanction decision is made by the judge with input from treatment counselors, prosecutors, defense attorneys and probation. Wood says, “All this is done, not to punish you or not to humiliate you or anything, it's actually to provide you the keys, provide you the tools you need to make the intelligent choice about alcohol.”

It appears to work. 79-percent of those in DUI court complete the program, and are 3 times less likely to have a new DUI arrest in the year that follows.... 4 times less likely by 2 years post graduation. Katy says the support she's received has changed her life, “I had to change my whole mindset cause if I didn't I wouldn't have made it through.” Wood says that’s the point, “We exist to keep people out of jail, to change people's lives, to keep them sober - so they can keep a job, so they're not on public assistance, stay with their family, so that there's not that split in the family. It's really a community bettering of the community that we're trying to accomplish.”

Since it began in 2003, more than 255 people have graduated from DUI court. There are currently about 150 enrolled. It takes a minimum of a year to complete the program if participants maintain total compliance. 12 to 16 months is average.