SE Vegas News

The Las Vegas Justice Court (LVJC) recently received funding to support the establishment of a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Treatment Court program in 2023.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety awarded $62,000 to the LVJC, according to a news release from Clark County.

"The DUI Treatment Court program is a critical program for our community that helps diminish the amount of repeat DUI offenders by providing participants with treatment to address underlying substance abuse disorders and change how they think in regards to driving under the influence," Judge Cynthia Cruz said in the news release.

The specialty DUI Treatment Court was founded in 2003, the news release noted. It provides repeat misdemeanor DUI offenders with a comprehensive treatment program. Participants must attend treatment services while under the court's supervision. They also must submit to random drug and/or alcohol testing throughout their time in the program. Participants are held accountable through the use of GPS tracking, breath interlock devices, alcohol/drug monitoring technology, and timely and appropriate sanctions for non-compliance.

"Without the grant support of the Nevada Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety, we would be challenged to provide assistance to as many repeat offenders as are referred to the program, leaving many to be a continued safety risk on our roadways," Cruz said.

The program was redesigned in July 2019, according to the news release. Its main goal is to get drunk drivers with multiple DUI arrests into treatment programs to reduce their likelihood of getting another DUI.

Ninety people went through the program in 2021, the news release noted. Ten did not complete the course, so the program has an 89% retention rate. Those who do not succeed in the program must serve their jail term, whether they drop out or officials end their participation. No new DUI arrests were recorded for the 33 program graduates from the past year, giving the program a current recidivism rate of zero.

"The DUI Treatment Court program provides a way to break the chain of repeat offenses through judicial oversight, regular drug testing, supervision, treatment, and community resources to help boost roadway safety," Cruz said. "Participants average just over a year in the program, and upon graduation, report that it was ultimately rewarding to them, despite the many challenges faced to complete all of the program requirements. We look forward to continuing to work with our community to help diminish the amount of repeat DUI offenders on our roadways, and with the grant, we can do so."

The grant will cover the cost of employing one specialty court coordinator, according to the news release. The coordinator's duties include screening defendants to make sure they meet program admission requirements. The coordinator also evaluates participants for clinically treatable conditions like substance abuse and mental illness. The coordinator is in charge of case management services, which include directing participants to the proper levels of care and community resources as well as keeping track of new program enrollees, graduates, and unsuccessful terminations.