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The DUI Court Mission

The mission of DUI courts is "to make offenders accountable for their actions, bringing about a behavioral change that ends DUI recidivism, stops the abuse of alcohol, and protects the public; to treat the victims of DUI offenders in a fair and just way; and to educate the public as to the benefits of DUI courts for the communities they serve."

The missions of a DUI court, a drug court, and a court that hears both DUI and drug cases are nearly interchangeable.  Offender accountability is key in every case, as are the goals to change offender behavior, eliminate substance abuse, end recidivism, and treat victims with fairness and sensitivity.

Distinctions do arise in a couple of areas.  First, drug courts must strive to give drug offenders the means to become productive members of society.  DUI offenders, on the other hand, are often productive in spite of their alcohol abuse.  They already have jobs, families, and homes, and the goal becomes more one of providing the tools they need to keep what they have.

Second, although both courts must endeavor to educate the public about the benefit of these systems for the communities they serve, proving their case can be a greater challenge for the DUI community.  The public understands that a part of drug court "justice" is treatment, and many believe that treatment is an effective way to counter drug abuse.  Fewer people believe that treatment will solve the DUI problem.  It is important to convince the public that the greatest danger today comes from repeat offenders, i.e., people with alcohol addictions who, like drug addicts, require treatment to change their behavior.

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This web page was created by the American Council on Alcoholism 
to serve as a resource for information about DUI courts.

This page was last updated on 4-30-2003.