Nevada grants $110,000 to Las Vegas DUI Treatment Court

The Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety awarded a $110,000 grant to Las Vegas Justice Court. The funding targets a specific cost in the justice system: the expense of housing repeat drunken driving offenders in jail.

The court intends to use the money to expand its 2027 DUI Treatment Court. This program, first established in 2003, places repeat misdemeanor offenders in supervised treatment rather than incarceration. The goal is to keep these drivers off the road by addressing the root causes of their behavior.

Participants in the program must attend regular treatment sessions and submit to random alcohol and drug tests. The court uses a technology stack to monitor compliance. This includes alcohol sensors, GPS tracking devices, and ignition interlock breath devices installed in participants' vehicles.

Judge Cynthia Cruz stated that the program addresses underlying substance abuse and changes how people view driving under the influence. She noted that without this specific grant, the court could not serve as many repeat offenders as it currently does.

Last year, seventy people were enrolled in the program. Three participants left or were terminated, resulting in a 96% retention rate. The grant also funds a specialty courts coordinator. This official screens defendants, evaluates their substance abuse and mental health needs, and connects them to community resources while tracking their progress.