51st District Sobriety Court

 Waterford

The Sobriety Court of the 51st District Court is an alternative response to managing defendants who incur drinking and driving offenses in Waterford Township.  Defendants agree to enter the Sobriety Court program after pleading guilty to drunk-driving offenses. The Probation staff then screens the defendants and assigns them to a specific phase in the program based on their individual needs. In most cases, defendants are sentenced to various treatment and community service programs in lieu of jail time. Offenders who enter the program receive intensified judicial and probationary supervision and are subject to close monitoring of their sobriety.

They are ordered to random or daily alcohol and drug testing based on their level of addiction and program compliance. By establishing close relationships with treatment providers, the Sobriety Court team is able to ensure appropriate treatment of all offenders and to incorporate a broad spectrum of care. Defendants who are noncompliant are subject to graduated sanctions up to and including jail. Community service, such as working in the garden at Hess Hathaway Farm, is frequently used as an intermediate sanction.