Napa County Probation Department Awarded $300K Grant To Supervise High-Risk DUI Offenders

Press release from the Napa County Government:

Dec. 21, 2023

NAPA COUNTY, CA —The Napa County Probation Department received funds for an intensive probation supervision program for high-risk DUI offenders with multiple DUI convictions.

The $300,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) will go toward the creation of a dedicated DUI probationer caseload to regularly check in with probationers to make sure they are following court-ordered terms of their probation, engaging in treatment, and to prevent probationers from re-offending.

“This grant will allow us to tackle the complex and unique issues surrounding repeat DUI offenders, providing vital resources and guidance to break the cycle of alcohol-related offenses,” Napa County Probation Department, Chief Probation Officer, Amanda Gibbs said. “With this funding, we can create safer roads and a healthier community by reducing the incidence of DUI offenses.”

“The intensive supervision programs are critical to reducing the devastating consequences of DUI offenses,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Prevention is an effective, proactive tool to address the often tragic consequences of impaired driving.”

The probation grant will also pay for warrant operations targeting probation violations and/or DUI suspects who do not appear in court, alcohol testing, officer training in Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), distribution of DUI “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) alerts, a dedicated officer assigned to ensure probationer compliance and treatment goals are met, and collaborating with courts and prosecutors to establish probation orders.

The grant program runs through September 2024.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This press release was produced by the Napa County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.