MADD’s Court Monitoring Program enlists and trains court monitors to observe and document what happens in the courtroom during drunk driving case proceedings. Court monitors track results and identify inconsistencies on how drunk driving cases are handled and resolved. MADD shares this information with law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, public defenders and, if necessary, the media, to help ensure appropriate actions.
2019
MADD’s Court Monitoring Program enlists court monitors to observe and document what happens in the courtroom during drunk driving case proceedings. Court Monitoring enhances transparency and accountability within the criminal justice system and reduces the likelihood of repeat drunk driving offenses. A key component of court monitoring is promoting public interest in the justice system and creating awareness of the outcomes of drunk driving cases. Court Monitoring is a proven tool to affect the adjudication process and is an effective countermeasure to reduce drunk driving*. Court Monitoring on the local scale can make an impact on the handling of drunk driving cases just by their mere presence in the courtroom. MADD’s team of staff and volunteers track individual cases, compile information about each case and create reports regarding case
disposition. Court Monitors let prosecutors and judges know - in a non-adversarial way - that MADD is watching drunk driving cases and looking for trends in how these cases are handled. Through this process, MADD seeks to maintain strong partnerships with members of the judicial system. * Goodwin, A., Thomas, L., Kirley, B., Hall, W., O’Brien, N., & Hill, K. (2015, November). Countermeasures that work: A highway safety countermeasure guide for State highway safety offices, Eighth edition. (Report No. DOT HS 812 202). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Court Monitors track misdemeanor drunk driving cases in the Magistrate courts of their respective counties. The monitors are physically present for court settings and acquire case information from courtroom observation and, when necessary, from researching online databases in the event a monitor is not able to be present at the proceeding. The data is then entered into the MADD National Court Monitoring Database for reporting purposes.
This report is designed to present observations and trends relative to the counties monitored, and are not intended to be a statistical analysis. State Report (reporting period: 9/1/2017 - 9/1/2018)
Guilty
2238
83% <1% <1% 16% <1%
Not Guilty
10
Deferred Prosecution
22
Open Cases
1.689
39%
Dismissed Amended
426
Total Adjudicated
2,698
61%
3
4,387
Total Cases Monitored
2,698
Total Adjudicated
Overall Disposition Detail
Total Adjudicated
Bexar
Dallas
Gregg
Harris
Montgomery
Smith
Travis
Amended Dismissed Deferred Not Guilty
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
39
4
28
256
82
14
3
426
21
1
0 0
0
0 0
0 0
0 0
22
2
0
8
10
Guilty Total
69
8
786 814
549 813
260
556
9
2237
134
13
342
570
12
2698
The chart above reflects a case study of data for the following counties — Bexar, Dallas, Gregg, Harris, Montgomery, Smith, Travis.
Age and Gender
Key Findings and Observations The Texas Court Monitoring efforts are grant supported by the Texas Department of Transportation using National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds. Texas Court Monitoring is included as one of several environmental strategies in our Texas ‘Take the Wheel’ awareness initiative. Other strategies include recognizing our Law Enforcement heroes for their exceptional enforcement of impaired driving laws, hosting Roundtable meetings with judicial and enforcement officials to discuss challenges to enforcement and educating parents and teens about the consequences of underage drinking. Texas Court Monitoring started in 2009 with a dedicated Court Monitoring Specialist in Harris County Courts. Today, there are seven ‘Take the Wheel’ team members monitoring cases in thirteen Texas counties that are a part of six regional program areas. While focus of our court monitoring has evolved, our intent remains to bring transparency and public oversight to the prosecution of Texas impaired driving cases. Data from 2017-2018 will serve as a crucial benchmark as the Texas court monitoring program progresses. Court Monitors who attend court assist in building strong relationship with judges and court staff. Based on cases monitored, the following observations were noted: :
A common occurrence for cases in Harris County is the Pretrial Diversion Program or PTI for one year for DWI Defendants. At the end of the year within the Pretrial Diversion Program, the DWI case is dismissed for defendants who abide by all conditions. Based on this information, dismissal rates in Harris County are related to defendant completion of the Pretrial Diversion Program. When witnessing and observing cases in Montgomery County, judges were stricter on the defendants. For instance, on a first DWI pleading guilty to the charge, monitors observed a defendant getting an $800 Fine, time served in jail and license being suspended for 90 days. If a defendant is charged with a 2nd DWI, judges are firmer with setting certain conditions, for instance, ordering the ignition interlock. Ignition Interlock devices can aid in the prevention of future offenses. Comal County judges seemed to be stricter on DWI convictions, usually imposing the maximum fine of $4000. Based on court monitor presence in Bexar County, judges treated a drunk driving 2nd offense much like a drunk drivng 1st offense; resulting in minimum sentencing guidelines. Age trends vary, but based on case data in Bexar, Harris and Montgomery County, many cases observed fell between 21-29 years of age.
In Bexar County, Court Monitors observed that the majority of the cases were reset (pre-trial conferences, jury trials or more time to consult with an attorney). Smith County has three courts dedicated to hearing criminal cases. Most DUI Cases in Smith County were held in the Smith County Court of Law #2. There were varying decisions made from court to court and also by county. Approximately 50% of Smith and Gregg County Cases were over the .15 average blood alcohol range, based on recent Court Monitoring Data. Bexar County noted many cases with a BAC of over .15 were often reduced to just a DWI. Based on Court Monitor presence in the courtroom, many cases for first time DWI offenders in Hopkins County and Bexar County had the ability to get Deferred Adjudication granted (offense is also reduced to Obstruction of Highway). Although a charge of Obstruction of Highway is also a Class B Misdemeanor, this change is considered a plea to a “lesser charge”. A charge of Obstruction of Highway often allows defendants to take advantage of deferred adjudication, lower court fees/fines and an option for a Motion for Non-Disclosure or dismissal. This “plea” is common in many DUI/DWI cases in courtrooms throughout Texas.
Each year, more than 1.4 million arrests are made for the crime of drunk driving. What happens after those arrests depends on the criminal justice system. How do we know if justice is being served? By being there to witness the process. As a court monitor, you have the opportunity to get an insider’s perspective on the justice system while making a vital contribution to the community. Your presence in court and the data you collect will help make sure our laws are upheld and the criminal justice system does what it is intended to do: keep us safe. Join MADD’s Court Monitoring Program EFFECTIVE JUSTICE THROUGH VOLUNTEERING
Volunteer court monitors are needed to:
Remind law enforcement that MADD wants to see their cases prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law
Track conviction rates and sanctions
Identify trends in offender age, gender, and blood alcohol concentration level
Notify judicial system of deficiencies
Create public outcry when weaknesses go unaddressed.
For information about how to volunteer in your state, please find your local MADD office at madd.org.
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