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The Greene County DWI Court will now be used as a training facility for other cities that want to stop drinking and driving. The DWI Court was named an Academy Court by the National Drug Court Institute today. KSMU's Emily Nash has more.
The National Drug Court Institution selected the Greene County DWI Court to be a new training and research site for other cities and counties.
Members from other DWI courts around the nation will travel to Springfield to learn from the Greene County Court.
Carolyn Hardin is the Director of the National Drug Court Institute.
She says the Greene County DWI Court stood out in the selection process because of collaboration between the courts and community to solve the drinking and driving problem.
DWI courts are designed to stop drunk driving by addressing the root cause of the substance abuse.
Instead of going to prison, the offender can plead guilty, accept responsibility and enter the DWI Court.
Drug Court Commissioner Peggy Davis says, once DWI Court participants are convicted, they begin an intense supervised treatment program.
Carolyn Hardin says the DW I Courts are able to keep participants from drinking and driving again
Now named an Academy Court, the Greene County DWI Court will be a training facility for DWI programs around the nation.
The National Drug Court Institute will also use the court for research and testing.
The Greene County DWI Court started in January 2003 and has had 143 graduates.
