The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office has received a $294,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for the “DUI/DUID Misdemeanor Prosecution, Education, and Outreach” program, which aims to reduce driving under the influence (DUI) and driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) offenses.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This grant funds a specialized prosecutor who will be responsible for misdemeanor DUI/DUID cases. The prosecutor will also mentor newly appointed deputy district attorneys on the successful prosecution of DUI/DUID cases and conduct roundtable discussions and trainings for law enforcement agencies on new DUI/DUID laws and investigation techniques.

Another grant component is community outreach on DUI/DUID prevention.  The grant prosecutor will participate in several education programs for adults and youth, including the DA’s Citizens Academy and Youth Academy, as well as the Real DUI Court in Schools program hosted by Arrive Alive, CA.  It is crucial to educate the community and young drivers of dangers and consequences of driving impaired, especially for young and inexperienced teens.

Outreach will also include office podcasts on DUI/DUIDs and the distribution of informational materials to those charged with DUI/DUID offenses in an effort to prevent recidivism.

“Through focused efforts and strong partnerships, we are working toward a future where all people will be safe on California roads,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “Together, we’re holding impaired drivers accountable and encouraging safe, responsible choices that help build a culture where safety comes first.”

“Every life lost or harmed by an impaired driver is one too many — and one-hundred percent preventable,” said Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho. “With support from OTS, we’re holding DUI offenders accountable, training law enforcement on DUI investigative techniques and educating our youth to stop impaired driving before it starts.”