Project
Characteristics |
Innovative Recidivism
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Program
Areas |
Alcohol and Other Drugs |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
County |
Targeted
Population |
DUI At Risk Recidivists and Convicted Multiple Offenders |
Jurisdiction
Size |
Fredericksburg: 19,800 Spotsylvania: 94,400 |
Funding |
User Funded by VASAP Fees |
Contact |
Judge John R. Stevens Carol Powell
3630 B Lee Hill Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
(540) 372-3558
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Digest
Listing
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VIRGINIA
Rappahannock Area
Alcohol Safety Action Program DUI Recidivism Court (Virginia)
PDF
Version
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, any person convicted
of a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) first or second offense in five years
must successfully complete a local Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program
(VASAP) before driving privileges are reinstated. VASAP includes assessment,
placement into intervention services, and monitoring until completion of the
intervention.
Although there was a program in place, many offenders did not successfully complete the program making the recidivism rate high.
Prior to the DUI Recidivism Court program, it was difficult to get clients to
participate in and complete intervention programs as the courts did not play a
supporting role. In addition, the time period between non-compliant behavior
and intervention was too long and created unnecessary paperwork.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Rappahannock Area Alcohol Safety
Action Program RAASAP DUI Recidivism Court is to decrease the recidivism rate of DUI
(Driving Under the Influence) offenders through the use of existing
intervention methods and the addition of judicial support and immediate
sanctions.
The program objectives are to:
-
Increase client participation
and completion of intervention programs; -
Reduce time lapse
between non-compliant behavior and court intervention; -
Improve collaboration
between the Court and RAASAP; and -
Implement immediate
sanctions for non-compliant behavior.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Rappahannock Area Alcohol Safety Action
Program DUI Recidivism Court implemented the following strategies and related
activities to achieve its goals and objectives:
-
Created a DUI court to provide judicial support. The
DUI Court is a cooperative effort that includes the Judge, Commonwealth's
Attorney, Defense Counsel, treatment professionals and RAASAP Case Manager. The
team's efforts are coordinated through RAASAP case manager.
-
The team
reviews the progress of each individual participant during the team staffings
prior to DUI Court status hearings. Participants appear for the first DUI Court
status hearing within seven days of conviction. Thereafter, the participant is
scheduled for status hearing every thirty days until successful completion of
their substance abuse treatment program. Follow-up status hearings are
scheduled every sixty days after completion of treatment. The
number of status hearings per month increases for any participant who does not
participate in or complete mandatory or court ordered programs at any period
during probation.
-
The DUI Court Judge is responsible for imposing
sanctions; however, any team member may recommend sanctions. The Judge readily
responds to relapse and other violations with immediate sanctions that address
non-compliance and other inappropriate conduct, including:
-
Increased frequency of
status hearings in the courtroom
-
Increased frequency of
alcohol or drug screening
-
Increased case management
appointments with RAASAP office
-
Increased treatment
attendance
-
Referred for Ignition
Interlock Program
-
Removal of driving
privileges
-
Curfew
-
Community Service hours
-
Jail
RESULTS
The RAASAP
DUI Recidivism Court Program achieved the following results:
-
Reduced rate of new DUI offenses for participants in
DUI Court program. -
Reduced recidivism rate for those who successfully completed
the program that they were assigned versus those who did not complete assigned
program. -
Improved client attitude and understanding of their
requirements.
-
Support of RAASAP case manager by the
Court.
-
Reduced the amount of court time
required for RAASAP case manager. -
Reduced the amount of time spent on case
review appointments. -
Reduced time spent on completing
non-compliance reports. -
Reduced time lapse between non-compliance
and court intervention. -
Established successful collaboration
between the Court and RAASAP. -
Improved
community safety due to the promptness of dealing with non-compliance.
Fall
2003 complete Digest (PDF)
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