In response to the Opinion by Rep. Jeff Hilovsky, R-Millsboro (“A plea for actionable solutions amid rising DUI dangers”): At the root of impaired driving, whether via alcohol or marijuana, is an addiction, a mental health disorder. Delaware should consider creating Drug Courts that empower specially trained judges to adjudicate DUI cases. These courts, successful in other states like Maryland, can order offenders to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and engage in other mental health services, while under a form of probation. Sentencing is deferred with a probation-before-judgment approach that gives the offender an opportunity to clean up, and if that is confirmed by the court, the charges are dropped or reduced. But, if not, the court imposes more serious sanctions. Of course, if a death or injury is the result of the drunk driving, the court’s options or even the assignment of the case to the Drug Court would be restricted.
In addition, the jails in Delaware should be required to allow and encourage Alcoholics Anonymous meetings on a daily basis, whether in person and/or by Zoom, and provide mental health services to address the underlying pathologies that lead to addictive behaviors. Coupled with social services that address literacy, adverse childhood events and job skills, these approaches have demonstrated reduced recidivism, an admirable goal for the Driving Under the Influence Prevention Task Force.
Michele Forzley
Lewes
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
