PRESS RELEASE
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Administrative Office of the Courts |
Clarke County Court Wins National Recognition
Georgia State Capitol, February 26, 2008 – Clarke County’s DUI Court has been selected as one of the nation’s four best courts in targeting repeat drunk drivers. In a ceremony on Friday, February 29th at 10:30 AM on the Washington Street side of the Georgia State Capitol, the court will be designated as one of four “Academy Courts” in the country. The other three courts selected are in Springfield, Missouri, Traverse City, Michigan and Newport Beach, CA.
An Academy Court is a model DUI court that serves as a site for training and technical assistance for anyone interested in creating DUI courts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Drug Court Institute chose these courts because of their exemplary practices.
Impaired driving is the most frequent violent crime committed in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2005, 16,885 people died in alcohol or drug-related crashes.
The DUI courts are designed to target people who Drive Under the Influence (DUI) who, without intervention, are at high risk of reoffending. These are dangerous offenders who continually get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Today there are more than 300 DUI courts throughout the United States dedicated to changing the behavior of these offenders by tackling the root cause: alcohol and drug abuse. Once they have served their time, as part of their probation, offenders are required to undergo rigorous treatment, withstand constant monitoring including drug tests, and appear regularly before the judge.
These courts work. A recent study by Applied Research Services, Inc. reported that DUI court graduates are four times less likely to be rearrested for DUI after two years.
By becoming an Academy Court, Clarke County stands to lead the way in combating drunk driving by stopping the cycle and saving lives.
On hand to answer questions will be C. West Huddleston, III, Executive Director, National Drug Court Institute
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