LOVELAND, Colo.—Larimer County may soon have a court dedicated to repeat DUI offenders.
“The idea would be to take on defendants who have a significant amount of disruption because of a clinical alcohol abuse problem,” county magistrate Matthew Zehe said.
The group behind the project includes Zehe and representatives of a number of other agencies, including the district attorney’s office, the public defender’s office, probation, law enforcement and private defense attorneys.
Unlike a traditional court that focuses on punitive measures, a DUI Court aims to combine punishment with prevention and treatment, Zehe said.
“The idea is that the court would be a mix of accountability, targeted supervision and treatment,” Zehe said.
The program is similar to Drug Court, which has been successful in Larimer County, Zehe said.
The difference between Drug Court and DUI Court is who is targeted.
Drug Court targets early offenders, hoping to cut off a potential problem before it becomes too big.
DUI Court is reserved for somebody who has shown a serious, repetitive problem with driving drunk. It will not be for first- or second-time DUI offenders.
Emily Humphrey, a prosecutor with the Larimer County district attorney, said her office recognizes the need for treatment combined with punishment.
Any person admitted to the court would be required to spend a period of time in jail or in an alternative sentencing program, she said.
But after that, they would be held accountable to the judge overseeing the court.
“We are going to be a big part of your life,” Humphrey said.
That would include weekly or semimonthly appearances, interaction with probation and law enforcement officers and alcohol and drug testing, Zehe said.
The court may be up and running by May if the group spearheading it can organize and find funding for it.
“We will produce, hopefully, people who are not driving drunk anymore and not endangering the community anymore,” Zehe said.
