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Community
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Overview In the United States, every day 36 people die and 700 more are injured in motor vehicle crashes that involve an impaired driver who has consumed alcohol. On average it is estimated that $51 billion dollars is spent annually on alcohol related crashes. The Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa is presenting specialized training on impaired driving related topics to the judges and integral criminal justice professionals across the state of Oklahoma. These trainings are focused on assisting judges with acquiring advanced technical and specialized skills targeting sanctioning and monitoring of impaired drivers.
After remarkable strides were made in reducing impaired driving in the 1980s and the early 1990s, progress has stalled. Many believed that this was due, in large measure, to the persistent behavior of repeat offenders who frequently drive after consuming large quantities of alcohol, making them a serious threat on the roadways. There is an emerging consensus that the courts must use different techniques to deal with the hardcore or repeat offender if we are to further reduce impaired driving. The good news is the hardcore or repeat offender’s contact with the criminal justice system is an intervention point for preventing future drunk driving arrests. The bad news is the repeat offender is not always evaluated and referred for appropriate services. Even when convicted these offenders often fail to comply with the sanctions imposed. As a result the DWI system is seriously undermined.
To be effective the DWI system must contain offender sanctions and programs that protect the public by keeping impaired drivers off the road and that ultimately change the offender’s future behaviors. Home arrest, license suspension, vehicle impoundment, continuous alcohol testing and ignition interlock devices have all been shown to be effective with the repeat drunk driver. Treatment and judicial interventions, such as DUI Courts, are also highly effective in changing future behavior for offenders, if engaged for a sufficient period of time.
Mission The State Judicial Education Project has continued to develop strategies to meet the specific needs of district and municipal judges. By presenting different alternatives for the impaired driver, the SJE Project strives to prevent hardcore and repeat impaired driving by educating judges and courts on the latest technology and national best practices. The Traffic Injury Research Foundation conducted a comprehensive study of the DWI system and made several recommendations including training and education for judges. The SJE Project focuses primarily on training and education of municipal and district judges who hear impaired driving cases, including the emerging sentencing practices. Additional focus is on effective sanctions and technology available to the courts for monitoring offenders.
Enforcing DWI laws is challenging. The detection of impaired drivers is difficult because the signs of impairment can be subtle. The arrest process itself is detail laden and takes place in a complex moving environment. The subsequent prosecution of DWI cases is no less challenging, given the technical and scientific nature of evidence, constantly changing statutes and legal precedents. Judges who hear DWI cases are faced with an ever-changing array of sanctions, sentencing options and available technology.
History The chronic problem of impaired driving continues to plague our nation and state. Traffic related fatalities top the leading causes of death for Oklahomans under 25. Combating impaired driving requires both strategic planning and strong program implementation. The Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa (CSC) has been on the forefront of planning and implementing innovative intervention programs for several decades. CSC led the development of the first specialized DUI Court in Oklahoma which was selected to participate in a national study on hardcore and repeat DWI offenders.
For more information...
Oklahoma Highway Safety Office...has statistics on impaired drivers. http://www.ok.gov/ohso/alcohol_impaired_driving
The Department of Public Safety...provides information about drunk driving: Over the Limit Under Arrest.
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration...provides facts sheet related to the impaired driver.
National Safety Council...provides resources for the impaired driver.
United States Department of Transportation...provides information on the drunk driver. http://www.iii.org.media/hottopics/insurance/drunk.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving...website gives information on the impact drunk driving has had in different communities.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)...treatment approaches for drug addiction. The site explains different types of treatment approaches.
Oklahoma Supreme Court Network...the website for information about Oklahoma cases, statutes, and other information pertinent for district courts in Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Municipal Judges Association.
For more information, contact Rose Ewing |
