OWI Treatment Court Participants Required to Complete Continuous Alcohol Monitoring
Alternative courts such as those focusing on Driving Under the Influence (DUI courts) and Operative While Intoxicated (OWI courts) have been gaining traction across the country. Courts focused on treatment and rehabilitation instead of punishment have proven effective, particularly for dealing with repeat offenders.
In many cases, these courts focus on the underlying problem of addiction or dependence on alcohol and drugs. By treating the underlying condition, they can help to prevent people from re-offending.
Lafayette’s OWI Treatment Court was established in October 2020, according to an article in SWNews4u.com. The program currently has four participants who have three or more OWI offenses and live within Lafayette County. The program is a collaborative effort between several different agencies to ensure that participants are complying with the treatment requirements and remaining sober.
Participants are required to be under strict supervision, including:
- Mandated home visits
- Continuous alcohol monitoring
- Frequent court appearances
- Participation in individual and group therapy
The article notes that OWI Treatment Courts have been successful in reducing drunk driving recidivism by as much as 60 percent.
Read more about the program “Lafayette’s OWI treatment court participants starting over.”
Continuous alcohol monitoring requires a participant to wear a device 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The device automatically tests for alcohol consumption. Non-compliance can be swiftly dealt with by monitoring agencies.