FELONY ALCOHOL INTERVENTION PROGRAM FAIP Mission to capitalize on the trauma and consequences of an arrest by early intervention in the alcoholic s course of abuse
Problem 124 motor vehicle deaths occurred in 2004, of that number 69 or 56% were alcohol related crashes. -Tarrant County Recovery Resource Council Average DWI offender drives impaired 80 times per year. -National Drug Court Institute Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injuries for Americans ages 2 through 33. -NHTSA National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2005
Texas Law Requires Counties to Have a DWI Court Program 469.001 Health & Safety Code Drug court program must integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services in the processing of cases in the judicial system. Tarrant County Commissioners Court recognized FAIP as a drug court program in October 2007.
Why not just add DWI offenders to DIRECT? DIRECT is geared toward 1 st time, low level offenders FAIP is geared toward repeat offenders DIRECT is for users of illegal narcotics FAIP is for users of a LEGAL, easily obtainable, commonly accepted substance DIRECT is a diversion program the charge is dropped from the successful participant s record FAIP is a post-conviction program the felony conviction remains on the participant s record
Who is eligible for FAIP? Felony DWI offender Resident of Tarrant County No prior 3g convictions or pending 3g charges US citizen or permanent resident No prior intoxication manslaughter convictions Not currently on parole Not on community supervision in another county
FAIP Admission Process Initial screening Coordinator review of every felony DWI arrest Citizenship (22.7% not citizens), resident of Tarrant County Letter to defense attorney Legal screening DA review of offense, priors, pending charges Defense attorney advise client, review offense Team screening PSI interview with motivation scale FAIP team review Plea in CDC#1 or CDC#3
FAIP Plea 7 years confinement probated for 4 years 6 month to 1 year hard DL suspension / 1 year additional probated suspension $600 fine ($1350 fine, $750 suspended) 10 days confinement in jail 90 AA meetings in 90 days, 4 AA meetings each week thereafter 160 hours CSR - community service Work full time, suitable employment No alcohol or drug usage
FAIP Program Components Expedite time between arrest and entry into treatment Consistent and lengthy structure so offender will benefit from treatment Ongoing judicial supervision Intensive community supervision / probation PIR Partner in Recovery
Methods of Supervision Regular meetings with both Court and Supervision Officer, as well as home visits (frequency depends upon current phase) Transportation plans Drivers Licenses are suspended for at least one year. Probationers submit weekly accounts of where they plan to travel, who will be driving them and when they will be home. Probationers must observe an 8 hour curfew, typically between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. Probationers submit signed, weekly logs of their AA attendance (minimum of 4 visits per week) Weekly reports received and reviewed from treatment providers Random home searches conducted to ensure compliance.
Alcohol & Drug Monitoring Breathalyzers Probationers randomly submit BATs (Breath Alcohol Test) in office, at court and in the field SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor) Probationers are required to wear the SCRAM bracelet for a minimum of 90 days at the onset of the program. They are also subject to random placement of the bracelet for the duration of supervision. Urinalysis Probationers submit urine specimens for drug testing weekly for the first 6 weeks of the program, twice monthly for the following three months and randomly for the remainder of the program. Soberlink Handheld breathalyzer that probationer blows into when he receives a text message, transmits GPS location, breath alcohol content, and photo.
Comparison of Cost Differences Costs Standard Probation FAIP Supervision fees $60/month $7200 $2880 Court costs $391 $391 Fine $1350 $650 Crime Stoppers fee $50 $50 Crime Victims Compensation Act $50 $50 Electronic Alcohol Monitoring $12/day ($1080) $9/day ($810) State Certified DWI ROP $225 $225 Supportive Outpatient Treatment $870 $0 *DL reinstatement $100-225 $100-225 Occupational DL $600 + attorney fees $0 **DL surcharges $3200-6000 $3200-6000 Ignition Interlock (2 years) $2000/year $1000/year SR-22 $1800-2700 $1800-2700 *Range included regular DWI offense fees to failing to submit to a breathalyzer fee **Range includes state fine for receiving DWI for having blood alcohol level above.16
Results 243 people have started the program 53 are in phase 5 after-care 26 have graduated 34 have had probation revoked-7 year sentence 183 sober happy people in program