A long-standing program in the Eighth Judicial District Court is making Nevada roads safer by offering treatment instead of prison time for felony DUI offenders.
The Felony DUI Court program, which has operated for decades, focuses on rehabilitation and recovery, helping repeat offenders turn their lives around.
The program recently received more than $260,000 from the Nevada Department of Public Safety to expand its efforts. The grant will help cover the salaries of program coordinators, according to Clark County District Court Arraignment Hearing Master Shannon Wittenberger.
“We’re treating people so they don’t re-offend, preventing them from getting behind the wheel again,” Wittenberger said.
The program is designed for individuals facing their third DUI in seven years. Instead of serving time behind bars, participants undergo a three- to five-year treatment plan that includes substance abuse counseling, random drug testing, and the use of a breath ignition interlock device in their vehicles.