Download DUI Alternative Program

City of Olympia
DUI Alternative Program
Project Statement
The City of Olympia DUI Alternative program was introduced in April 2003 and
designed to help reduce the jail population. The program is required for all first time
DUI offenders who have been ordered to serve one or two days in jail. It is also available
to all possession of marijuana or possession of drug paraphernalia offenders with the
same one day sentences, but not required.
The program is currently offered six times per year. The agenda includes information on
driver’s license reinstatement, a certified Alcohol/Drug Information School (ADIS)
course and participation in the Victim’s Impact Panel. The program runs a full 24 hours
from 6am to 6am. Participants sleep in the Council Chambers at City Hall. All
participants successfully completing the program will receive credit for one day in jail.
Project Summary
History:
For several years now the City of Olympia has struggled to manage its jail population.
Jail resources for the City include their own 28-bed facility, and for offenders serving
long-term sentences (over 30 days), the City has signed an agreement with Benton
County, allowing up to 38 offenders to be housed in their facility . The City’s Probation
Services Department also offers various alternatives to incarceration including electronic
home monitoring, work release, work crew, day jail and community service.
Despite the above resources in place the City of Olympia continues to struggle with jail
crowding issues on a regular basis. Careful analysis concluded that the crisis tends to
center around the lack of local jail space. Although the City maintains a contract with
Benton County, prisoners can only be transported to that facility two times per week.
Often times the city jail is at capacity or higher. Crowded conditions offer potential for
increased inmate management problems in the jail, including the management of
mentally ill offenders and those with other medical issues.
In 2002, options were again explored to try to reduce jail crowding in the city jail. The
Probation Services Department developed a pilot program for first time DUI offenders
and those convicted of misdemeanant possession of marijuana and possession of drug
paraphernalia. The program was based upon the concept that all first time DUI and
minor drug possession offenders were required to serve a mandatory one or two day
sentence in custody. The law allows for alternatives to incarceration for these offenders
due to jail crowding. Those options include, for DUI offenders, serving 15 days on
electronic home monitoring (EHM) in lieu of one day in jail or 30 days EHM in lieu of a
two day sentence. It is also permitted to complete 40 hours of community service in lieu
of serving one day in jail for drug possession offenses. The last option allowed is a oneday DUI alternative program.
Statistics gathered from January 1, 2002 through October 23, 2002 showed that 111 DUI
offenders were ordered to serve one or two day sentences. Of those, 0 chose to serve
their time alternatively through the EHM program. Therefore, all 111 of those offenders
served their time in the City jail throughout the course of the year. By offering a one day
DUI alternative jail option, those 111 offenders would not have to be housed in the City
of Olympia jail facility, but instead in an alternative setting. Further, a total of 87
offenders were convicted of a minor drug offense. Of those, 49 served one day in jail, 6
had not served their time to date, and 32 chose to complete their time on community
service. A combined total of 160 offenders served their mandatory one or two day
sentence in the City of Olympia Jail.
Given those statistics, the Olympia City Council approved the development of a DUI
Alternative program for 2003.
How it Operates:
The program commenced in April 2003 and continues to date. All eligible offenders are
required to participate. On a date determined by the Probation Services Department
participants must arrive at 6:00am. During the next 24 hours defendants participate in a
variety of programs and educational courses related to their offense, included, but not
limited to the driver’s license reinstatement class, offered by the probation department, a
state certified Alcohol/Drug Information School (ADIS) and attendance at the Victim’s
Impact Panel. Programming ends at approximately 10:00pm. Defendant’s are then
escorted to the City jail where they are issued a bed roll and pillow. They are then
escorted back over to the Council Chambers where they will spend the rest of the night.
Participants required to serve only one day in custody are then excused the following
morning at 6:00am. Those offenders with a two-day sentence are then escorted to the
city jail and booked in for their next 24 hour period.
What it Costs:
Although the program is not offered as a revenue producing option, a $100.00 fee is
charged to all participants. The money is used to cover the costs of Alcohol/Drug
Information School, Victim’s Impact panel fees, corrections officer’s salary to supervise
at night and cleaning costs for the Council Chambers. Those that are able to pay the fee
not only receive credit for their one day in jail, but also are credited for participation in
the Victim’s Impact Panel and completion of ADIS. Both of these programs are required
by the Court and the Department of Licensing for all first time DUI offenders. Currently,
the Court charges $45.00 to attend the Victim’s Impact Panel and most local certified
drug/alcohol treatment agencies charge $100.00 for the ADIS course. Those who pay the
$100 fee, save approximately $45.00 by participating in the alternative program.
Benefits:
This program was promoted as a “Win / Win.” For those offenders who participate,
there is an incentive in time and money. All court ordered requirements are completed in
a 24 hour period, at a significant cost savings. This in turn takes pressure off of the
Probation Department, as all requirements are completed and therefore the need to
monitor offenders as closely is reduced. It is also believed that the 24 hours spent in this
program is much more meaningful than a typical “day in jail.” Offenders are actively
participating in coursework and attending presentations for approximately 14 hours of the
day. The hope is that they will walk away from this experience having made a decision
to never drive under the influence again.
This program has been so successful for the City of Olympia that the Probation
Department has been approached by several other neighboring jurisdictions to expand the
program to allow their clients to participate as well. That option is being considered
currently.
The following statistics were compiled for the year 2003:
63/75 DUI offenders successfully completed the program.
14/24 minor drug offenders successfully completed the program.
To date 0 participants have been charged with another DUI offense.
A total of 77 jail bed days were saved with a total jail cost savings of $5390
(77x$70/day).
Program Costs/Revenue collected for 2003:
Costs:
Revenue:
$6067
$6890
Total Cost to City: $ 0.00
Additional Revenue: $823.