STOCKTON - San Joaquin County Superior Court has been awarded continued funding for its DUI Court program by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The $533,000 in continued funding will be used to support program operations and services between Oct. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2012.

The DUI Court was implemented three years ago to increase accountability for repeat DUI offenders and reduce recidivism among this high risk group with the goal of increasing public safety and the quality of life for all citizens. All repeat offenders in the Stockton Judicial District are ordered to participate in the DUI Court program. The DUI Court Team, which consists of three and a half court compliance officers, one case manager, and one probation officer monitor repeat offenders in the program. Components of the DUI Court program include: regular court appearances, accountability to fulfill both Department of Motor Vehicle and court sanctioned sentencing mandates, regular drug and alcohol testing, use of Ignition Interlock Device (IUD), home inspections to ensure alcohol free compliance, participation in 12-step recovery programs, and substance abuse treatment as mandated by the court. There are currently 758 clients actively participating in the program. The DUI Court has graduated 72% of participants ordered to the program.

San Joaquin County continues to see positive outcomes regarding traffic fatality and injury rates since the DUI Court Program began. San Joaquin County has seen a 25% reduction in alcohol related injuries in 2009 and 43% reduction in alcohol related injuries in 2010 from the 2004-2007 average. The County has also seen a 40% reduction in alcohol related fatalities in 2009 and a 54% reduction in alcohol related fatalities in 2010 from the 2004-2007 average. Additionally, as of October 2011, the recidivism rate for DUI Court participants is only 4.4% as compared to the California Department of Motor Vehicles one year recidivism rate for 2006 for all DUI offenders in San Joaquin County, which was 7.9%. Further program evaluation will take place in the near future. The current grant includes funding to complete a process and program impact evaluation. NPC Research will complete this evaluation and determine how the DUI Court program has improved client outcomes.