Training webinar focuses on Sobriety Courts, Dec. 6

The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan will present the Traffic Safety Training Program Webinar "Sobriety Courts Changing Lives and Making a Difference" on Wednesday, December 6, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom. Ending impaired driving is not easy. It is a complex issue requiring a variety of tools in fighting it. Some tools like saturation patrols and increased media advertisements are critical in deterring, as well as catching, impaired drivers. However, the factors that result in a social drinker committing an impaired driving offense versus those that cause a repeat offender to drive impaired are vastly different and complicated. Different responses are needed depending on the person. For social drinkers, many times an arrest and conviction can stop the criminal behavior. But for repeat offenders, a different response is needed. One tool in the effort to stop repeat impaired drivers are Sobriety Courts. A Sobriety Court specifically works with repeat/substance dependent offenders by implementing intensive supervision and long-term treatment to address the underlying problems and change the person's behavior so they do not repeat. This presentation discusses the role of Sobriety Courts as one more tool in ending repeat impaired driving, examining: (1) the reasons for having a Sobriety Court, (2) what a Sobriety Court is and how it works, and (3) what the research says about Sobriety Court's effectiveness. Presenting at the webinar will be Huron County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney David Wallace. To register for this free webinar, visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on "training." After registering, pending approval, attendees will receive a confirmation email from Zoom with instructions on how to join the webinar. Anyone with questions or in need of any assistance registering for the webinar should contact Amy Gronowski at gronowskia@michigan.gov or at 517-643-2114. Published: Tue, Nov 21, 2023