DUI Court

DUI Court – Your Road to Recovery

“Impaired driving treatment courts (also known as DWI courts) make our roads safer by treating the underlying alcohol or polysubstance use disorders fueling dangerous behavior by repeat impaired drivers. Impaired driving treatment courts supervise participants closely through judicial and probation accountability while providing substance use and mental health treatment and other evidence-based interventions to prevent future instances of impaired driving.

“Impaired driving treatment courts reduce impaired driving more than any other strategy for those at the highest risk for recidivism and the highest need for substance use and mental health treatment.”

(From https://allrise.org/about/treatment-courts/#impaired-driving-treatment-court)

DUI Court is a Clark County District Court level therapeutic specialty courts served by a combined team. This voluntary program offers a coordinated strategy to ensure participants engage in treatment as recommended by a formal assessment, complete all court ordered conditions, and build their recovery capital to make healthier choices once their court supervision is completed. DUI Court is the highest level of supervision and support District Court can offer multiple-DUI offenders.

The court is divided into four phases and takes a minimum of 12 months to complete. The team uses targeted incentives, sanctions, and service adjustments to monitor and help guide participants to keep on track with court and probation conditions while moving toward program completion.

With approval from the City or County prosecutor at the time of referral, limited charges allowed to enter the program on a pre-plea basis may be eligible for dismissal at program commencement. DUI Court is not able to suspend mandatory sentences. 

Eligibility

Multiple DUI offenders have a high rate of recidivism and pose a threat to the safety of the community. The potential participant must qualify under the guidelines as defined in RCW 2.30.030 for drug & mental health courts with the following local conditions outlined: 

The participant must:
  • Be a Clark County legal resident age 18 or older at time of opt in and remain a legal resident throughout the duration of the program. 
  • Have a primary diagnosis for a substance use disorder and/or co-occurring disorder and voluntarily choose this treatment program option.
  • Have a nexus between the alleged criminal behavior in the pending offense and the individual’s diagnosis as supported by the suitability screen and/or assessment. 
  • Have the mental capacity and ability to appreciate the consequences of the legal proceedings and fully understand the expectations and conditions of the therapeutic specialty court contract. 
  • Sign a stipulation and waiver of rights for any charges referred on a pre-plea basis.
    • DUI, Physical Control, any charge approved on a post-plea basis, or probation violations must be sentenced or resolved prior to opting into DUI Court. 
  • Have two or more drug or alcohol -related driving offenses to participate in the DUI Court program; otherwise, the cases will be brought into Treatment Alternative Court.
The participant must NOT have:
  • Any serious violent offenses in criminal history.
  • Pending charges/outstanding warrants in any other jurisdiction, except with prior approval of the court team with a timeline to resolve those matters included on the contract addendum.
  • Used a firearm in the commission of any crime.

Please contact coordinator Beth Robinson for more information:

beth.robinson@clark.wa.gov or (564) 397-2431

DUI Court brochure (PDF)

Referral Forms

Pre-plea Referral Form
Post-plea Referral Form

Forms for Attorneys

Pre-plea Opt In Packet

Post-plea Opt In Packet

 

Forms for Participants

Web Report Form
Physician's Letter - TAC/DUI Court
Special Request Form
Phase Up Forms
     Phase Up 2
     Phase Up 3
     Phase Up 4
Commencement Packet
Budget Worksheet