Project Grant H79TI085903

WILLIAMSON COUNTY GENERAL SESSIONS DUI COURT - WILLIAMSON COUNTY (TN) GENERAL SESSIONS DUI COURT WILL USE FUNDING FROM SAMHSA TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DUI OFFENDERS IT SERVES ANNUALLY AND EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS OPERATING WHILE INTOXICATED (OWI). THIS EXPANDED TARGET POPULATION WILL ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE CASES, SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT ARE NON-ALCOHOL RELATED ARRESTS, THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING REFERRED TO THE COURT. IN ADDITION TO THIS EXPANSION, THE PROGRAM WILL IN YEAR 1, IDENTIFY STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY FOR PARTICIPANTS PRE-AND POST-GRADUATION. TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES INCLUDING MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED CARE, WILL CONTINUE UNDER THIS FUNDING. BUILDING ON THIRTEEN YEARS OF PROVEN SUCCESS, THE DUI COURT ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE USING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT REDUCE IMPAIRED DRIVING AMONG MEMBERS OF A HIGH-RISK POPULATION. PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF MULTIPLE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OFFENSES AND MEET DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS, FIFTH EDITION CRITERIA FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS IS COMPRISED OF OFFENDERS WHO LIVE IN ONE OF TEN MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNTIES THAT ALL REPORTED "EXCESSIVE DRINKING" RATES ABOVE STATE AVERAGE. WILLIAMSON COUNTY DUI COURT ADDRESSES CORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES, AND UNIQUE NEEDS TO ELICIT PERSONALITY CHANGES WHILE PROVIDING THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS A PARTICIPANT NEEDS TO SUSTAIN LONG-TERM SOBRIETY. WITH THE RESEARCH- DRIVEN "GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF DWI COURTS" AT ITS CORNERSTONE, THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS TO DEMONSTRATE CHANGES THROUGHOUT 11 MONTHS AND 29 DAYS OF INTENSIVE SUPERVISION AND ACCOUNTABILITY. EXCLUDING CURRENT, 94% OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE GRADUATED AFTER FULFILLING ALL EXPECTATIONS INCLUDING COMPLETION OF "HOW TO ESCAPE YOUR PRISON" AND "PRIME FOR LIFE". RECOGNIZED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES, THESE PROGRAMS REDUCE RECIDIVISM AMONG THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WHO DEMONSTRATED BEHAVIORS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WHILE INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT PLANS MAY VARY TO INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT, OR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, ALL PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS VIA MULTIPLE POINTS OF CONTACT WITH COURT TEAM MEMBERS EACH WEEK. IN PARTICULAR, THEY ATTEND GROUP SESSIONS WITH THE TREATMENT PROVIDER AND SELF-HELP MEETINGS, MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE PRESIDING JUDGE, MEET WITH CASE MANAGER, AND UNDERGO TWO URINE SCREENINGS AMONG OTHER EXPECTATIONS. DURING THE LIFE OF THIS PROJECT, THE DUI COURT PROGRAM WILL ANNUALLY PROVIDE LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES TO 42 UNDUPLICATED PARTICIPANTS. A TOTAL OF 210 UNDUPLICATED PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AND ENTER INTO THE DUI COURT PROGRAM.