December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and the Second Judicial District Court recognizes the successes of the Felony DUI Treatment Court.
The Second Judicial District Court established the Felony DUI Court in January of 2008 with a goal to rehabilitate third-time Felony DUI offenders through community-based treatment, intensive behavioral supervision, and judicial monitoring.
Treatment courts provide individuals who have repeat impaired-driving offenses with the accountability, treatment, and recovery support services needed to address the underlying causes of impaired driving: substance use and mental health disorders. This is a win-win for Washoe County as our roadways are made safer, quality of life is improved, and recidivism is reduced, all while ensuring justice involved individuals receive the help they need.
Since 2020, the Felony DUI Court has successfully graduated over 150 participants and of those persons 77 percent had no subsequent convictions three years after successful discharge.
Participants in the Felony DUI Court voluntarily agree to undergo a three to five-year mandatory evidence-based treatment program, including participating for six months in a residential treatment facility, house arrest, or other court approved monitoring. Participants also agree to pay and install an ignition interlock on all their vehicles to prevent them from being driven, if any alcohol is detected.
Judge Kathleen Sigurdson currently presides over Felony DUI Court and the multidisciplinary team consisting of defense counsel and prosecutor, treatment providers, court coordinator, court clerk, parole and probation officers, and drug and alcohol testing staff.
“I’m proud of the holistic approach the court takes to help participants pursue and stop the cycle of substance use and impaired driving,” Judge Sigurdson said.
Through collaborative efforts and grant awards from the Nevada Department of Public Safety/Office of Traffic Safety and the State of Nevada, Administrative Office of the Courts, the court will continue its efforts to improve outcomes, lower recidivism, and provide a safe, more secure, and healthier community.
