The new year means new beginnings for many, especially with the revised expungement law taking effect this month. Those who were picked up on a DWI (driving while impaired) over the holidays may be seeking a new start of a different sort. Courts are starting to recognize that DWI offenders need more from the judicial system than the typical charge-convict-sentence cycle. Preventing future offenses means getting to the varied and personal root causes behind DWI, specifically, the “I” component. This is why DWI courts are gaining attention, with their dedication to changing the behavior of alcohol and other drug dependent offenders arrested for DWI, while using the drug court model to address the root cause of impaired driving. DWI court efforts are led by the National Center for DWI Courts, which is supported by entities including the U.S. Department of Transportation.
DWI rates are decreasing nationwide as a result of several factors. Recent studies have shown that Minnesota’s specialty courts for chronic drunken drivers reduce recidivism and save taxpayers money. At the end of 2014, Minnesota had 16 DWI or hybrid DWI/drug courts. For 2015, DWI courts are expanding into Norman, Polk and Red Lake counties .
The Ramsey County DWI Court is for persons charged with three or more gross misdemeanor DWI offenses. This specialty court program provides “intensive supervision for persons who are interested in changing their drinking and driving behavior and ending their cycle in the criminal justice system.” The program, which accommodates approximately 60 participants at a time, involves regular court appearances for at least 24 months, participation in a substance abuse treatment program, and attending a MADD victim-impact panel.
