CourthouseDWI Courts

The term "DWI Court" refers to a specific intensive supervision docket for repeat or hard core intoxicated drivers.  The DWI court concept is based on the principles developed by drug courts which have been in existence for several decades, and have a very successful track record in reducing recidivism.  These articles provide general information about the creation of the DWI problem solving court, as well as specific information about several successful DWI court programs.

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  • County Takes a Look at Alternative Path for Repeat DWI Offenders Source- Other | This is a copy of article taken from the Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, Texas newspaper covering the local County Court at law team that received DWI court training in July, 2006. The article illustrates the kind of positive news coverage that can be created and information that will interest a community when a DWI Court is initiated.

  • Evaluation of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan DWI/Drug Court Final Report Source- Governmental | In September of 2002, The University of New Mexico, Institute for Social Research, Center for Applied Research and Analysis, delivered the final report of an independent evaluation of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court’s DWI/Drug Court Program. | Part One of the evaluation reviewed four hundred and fifty clients who were served since the program’s inception in July 1997.  This review summarizes basic client demographics, treatment participation and discharge status upon exit.  In Part Two the evaluation profiles graduates and non-graduates and identifies statistically significant indicators of the likelihood of graduation.  Part Three is a Historical Outcome Study of program graduates compared to two different comparison samples drawn from probation clients.  Part Four presents a cost analysis of drug court participation compared to offenders assigned to probation with a focus on incarceration costs. 

  • DWI Courts: The Newest Problem-Solving Courts Source- Other | A short four page extract written by Victor E. Flango, Vice President of Research for the National Center for State Courts. This extract discusses the trend toward specialized "treatment" courts, potential conflicts for judges, and related issues.

  • A Judge's First Impression of DWI/Drug Courts Source- Judicial | This article, written by the Texas Judicial Resource Liaison, Judge David L. Hodges, discusses the views of the traditional trial judge after observing the operations of a DWI intensive supervision court session, and discusses the differences between the judge’s traditional role in the trial system and the judge’s role in presiding over DWI court. 

  • Painting the Current Picture: A National Report Card on Drug Courts and Other Problem Solving Court Programs in the United States Source- Other | A 16 page brochure prepared by the National Drug Court Institute outlining the expansion of problem-solving courts in the United States and summarizing the benefits of problem-solving courts to the judicial system, accompanied by substantial additional resources and research in the footnotes.

  • DWI/Drug Courts:  Reducing Recidivism, Saving Lives A 4-page article written by C. West Huddleston, former acting Director of the National Drug Court Institute (currently Executive Director, National Association of Drug Court Professionals) setting forth the 10 guiding principles of problem-solving courts, and discussing the success these courts have experienced in reducing recidivism rates for the hard core, addicted alcoholic.