Last week in one of our blogs, we alluded to something called DUI court. DUI court is a program for repeat DUI offenders that attempts to help them shift towards a clear and sober lifestyle. But what does DUI court entail, and how does the program work? We answer those questions and more in today’s blog.
DUI Court Basics
DUI court is an option for eligible defendants who enter a guilty plea or are convicted of a DWI. The program is 18 months long and provides an alternative option to traditional criminal probation. In order to be eligible for Hennepin County DUI Court, a person must have been convicted of or plead to a DWI, reside in Hennepin County, be at least 18 years old, complete a chemical health assessment and not be a violent offender. Eligible individuals who fail a requirement during the program will be sent to jail.
The DUI court program has four specific phases. Stage I lasts for at least three months, Stage II lasts for at least nine months, Stage III lasts for at least six months, and Stage IV, which requires less active involvement, lasts for two years. Here’s a look at each stage.
Stage I
- Attend judicial reviews every week for a minimum of 13 weeks;
- Meet with probation as directed;
- Attend 3 treatment, aftercare, or community self help support meetings, or a combination thereof;
- Submit to random alcohol and drug screening;
- Actively seek employment or enroll in school;
- Be available for random home visits;
- Obtain a community self-help support sponsor and meet with sponsor once a week;
- Observe a curfew
Stage I is considered the most intensive, and it you can make it through those 13 weeks, you have a good chance of completing the entire program.
Stage II
- Attend judicial reviews every other week for a minimum of 19 reviews;
- Meet with probation as directed;
- Submit to random alcohol and drug screening;
- Maintain employment and/or education;
- Continue all other program activities, including participation in a cognitive-behavioral group;
- Be available for random home visits;
- Continue community self-help support and sponsorship
meetings; - Observe a curfew
- Complete Study & Action
- Complete Sentence to Serve (STS)
- Attend a Victim Impact Panel
Stage III
- Attend judicial reviews every four weeks for a minimum of 6 reviews;
- Meet with probation as directed;
- Submit to random alcohol and drug screening;
- Maintain employment and/or education;
- Continue all other program activities;
- Be available for random home visits;
- Continue community self-help support and sponsorship meetings;
- Observe a curfew
- Pay fines and fees by the time of graduation
Stage IV
During Stage IV, participants are placed on administrative probation for a period of two years, during which time they are subject to less intensive supervision and reporting requirements. After the two-year period, participants are discharged from probation, and it is completely up to them to decide if they would like to seek out continuing care services.
For more information about DUI court, or to see if one is available in your area, reach out to your local district court. And if you need help fighting a DUI charge, contact Avery Appelman and his firm today.
