Louisiana’s ‘Sobriety Court’ Program Targets Drunk Drivers

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State court officials in Lafayette are three months into a program designed to wean habitual drunken drivers off of alcohol.

The Advocate reports it’s a program that demands sobriety and discipline from offenders who have been convicted of third- and fourth-offense OWIs — operating a vehicle while intoxicated. They’ve all pleaded guilty to their last OWI in exchange for a spot in the 15th Judicial District’s “Sobriety Court.”

For 18 months they’re required to wear alcohol-detection devices, get home before 10 p.m., get drug tested twice a week, check in with their counselors once a week and participate in Alcoholics Anonymous or another support group regularly.

They also are required to visit a judge one night every two weeks for encouragement or admonishment.

In exchange they get to stay out of jail, unless they mess up and fall off the wagon.

“They have a tough jail sentence hanging over their heads,” said 15th District Court Judge Thomas Duplantier, who twice a week sits in judgment of the program’s participants.

Lafayette Parish on Oct. 1 started its first Sobriety Court, a national program that’s been implemented in state district courts in Houma, Monroe, Morgan City, New Iberia and Lake Charles.

Lafayette’s program is being funded by a yearly $150,000 grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, which received the money from the federal National Highway Safety Board. Lafayette will receive the grant for three years, said Jacob Corbell, specialty court director for the 15th Judicial District. Corbell said the money will run out in late 2017. After that, court officials will have to find another financial source and also rely on a fund that program participants contribute to each month.

Corbell said the program has enough money to accommodate 20 participants at one time. The current class should reach 20 members in March, he said.

Valerie Cox, a representative with Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Baton Rouge, said the organization supports OWI courts that closely monitor participants, test for drugs and alcohol frequently and make sure those in the program are getting outside counseling.

Corbell said that to enter the Lafayette Parish program, third- and fourth-OWI offenders must be nonviolent offenders who have left behind no victims.