San Mateo Superior Court Awarded State Grant for DUI Program

From The City of San Mateo: The San Mateo Superior Court is the recipient of a $300,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for its Multiple Driving Under the Influence (MDUI) Court. The San Mateo Superior Court is one of three courts in California to receive this one-year grant through the California Office of Traffic Safety. This is the second year that San Mateo Superior Court was a recipient of this grant.

The MDUI Court is the most recent addition to the San Mateo County Superior Court’s collaborative court programs. Collaborative courts utilize a multidisciplinary team approach combined with intensive correctional supervision to identify and treat the root causes of criminal behavior. The MDUI program has been in operation for just over one year and while it’s still too soon to assess the impact of the program on repeat offenders, early results look promising.

The program has grown to service more than 225 participants and has had a 82 percent graduation rate, with only two individuals in the program committing a new DUI while under program supervision, Presiding Judge Jonathan Karesh announced today. The MDUI grant funding supports the administration and operation of court programs proven to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. The program meets that objective by providing intensive supervision of second and third time DUI offenders while connecting them with the recovery resources they need to address their alcohol use. In addition to requiring participants to serve a jail sentence, the MDUI program includes:

 Dedicated probation officers to supervise repeat offenders;
 Ignition interlock device installed in vehicle, which prevents an intoxicated individual from starting the car;
 Periodic alcohol testing or continuous alcohol monitoring;
 Referrals to community-based organizations for alcohol treatment;
 Frequent hearings before a judge who reviews a participant’s progress or lack thereof and adjusts the program elements to ensure a successful outcome.

This program was made possible by collaboration between the San Mateo Superior Court and County of San Mateo partner agencies including the District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department, and the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services division of County Health. Program Funding was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as a grant administered by the Judicial Council of California as part of the Court Innovations Grant Program.

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