Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Travis County for the lease or rental of alcohol monitoring devices required for participants of the Travis County DWI Court Program, for an initial term of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 and one 12-month extension option, each in an amount not to exceed $11,000, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $22,000.
De
Lead Department
Austin Public Health.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $11,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Austin Public Health Department Operating Budget. Funding for the remaining term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
For More Information:
Adrienne Sturrup, Director, 512-972-5010; Cassandra DeLeon, Assistant Director, Disease Prevention Health Promotion Division 512-972-6760; Stephanie Helfman, Manager, Chronic Disease & Injury Prevention Program, 512-972-5222; Juanita Jackson, Business Process Consultant, 512-972-6163.
Additional Backup Information:
Austin Public Health (APH) is committed to reducing impaired driving, as it is a leading cause of injury and fatal crashes. APH currently facilitates the inter-agency Impaired Driving Action team to implement evidence-based strategies to prevent impaired driving. The Community Guide of the Community Preventive Services Task Force identifies the use of ignition interlock devices (IID) as an effective measure in reducing re-arrest rates. An IID is a device that uses a deep-lung breath analysis mechanism to make impractical the operation of the motor vehicle if ethyl alcohol is deed in the breath of the operator. More widespread and sustained use of IID’s could have a substantial impact on alcohol-related crashes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that IID’s reduce driving while intoxicated (DWI) repeat offenses by 70% when installed, and that “providing adequate resources” for offenders, such as financial assistance, is one of eight key program features for strong interlock programs.
The Travis County DWI Court Program is a program administered by County Court at Law No. 7 as
a diversion alternative, which allows individuals with a DWI offense to participate in a treatment program that requires specific conditions, including counseling and alcohol monitoring (such as IID’s) for a period of up to 12 months. Successful completion could result in a dismissal of the charge instead of a conviction or traditional probation. This interlocal agreement will fund a DWI Pilot Program to reach individuals who may not have the financial means to otherwise take part in the DWI Court Program. This will remove barriers that prevent individuals from participating, as well as divert individuals from the criminal justice system and incarceration. The DWI Court Program requires individuals to use an alcohol monitoring device (AMD) for the duration of their participation, or by judge’s order, with a cost of $70 to $100 per month per individual. Funding for the DWI Pilot Program will be used by the Travis County Community Justice Services to address the need for AMD’s for individuals who do not have financial means to rent or lease such devices necessary to participate in the DWI Court Program. As many as 12 individuals will be provided with these devices for the duration of their 12-month participation in the DWI Pilot Program.