Louisiana Court Monitoring Newsletter May 2023

MADD LOUISIANA

COURT MONITORING-IMPAIRED DRIVING NEWSLETTER

MAY, 2023

INSIDE: _______________

BI-ANNUAL COURT MONITORING REPORT

MADD ANNOUNCES NEW NATIONAL PRESIDENT AND NEW CEO EPIDEMIC PLAGUING AMERICA'S ROADS REACHES HISTORIC LEVELS

UPCOMING EVENTS

MADD LOUISIANA COURT MONITORING Bi-Annual Newsletter

How It Works MADD's Court Monitoring Program is one of the tools MADD uses to achieve the goal of no more victims from impaired driving crashes. The main goal of the Court Monitoring program is to observe, track and collect data on DWI cases and document any trends we might see in the process. MADD's Court Monitoring program has grown across the United States since it first started in 2015. The goals of the program are: 1) To compile pertinent information on how cases are handled in the courtroom. 2) To elicit public interest in the management and outcome of these cases. 3) To report relevant information gathered by the project to appropriate entities to increase efficiency of the judicial process.

Partnerships

MADD Monitoring Program Specialist will be working with the New Orleans Regional Traffic Safety Planning Coalition, the Capital Regional Transportation Safety Coalition, the Louisiana's Court Southwest Regional Transportation Safety Coalition, as well as the Northwest Louisiana Transportation Safety Coalition. All of these coalitions are working on a goal to reduce fatalities and serious injuries due to car crashes by 50% by the year 2030 and one of the focal points is impaired driving. MADD Louisiana is honored to be one of the many safety partners working with these four coalitions.

Become a MADD Court Monitoring Volunteer NHTSA estimates that 4,050 people died in alcohol related motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first half of 2022. in the U.S. This is a marginal increase from the first half of 2021; however, this is still higher as compared to pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Now more than ever, we need everyone to join us in the fight to end this 100% preventable crime. To learn more, contact:

Dana Hernandez , MADD Louisiana Court Monitoring Program Specialist 225.926.0807 dana.hernandez@madd.org

CURRENT TRENDS For the 2022-2023 grant year, MADD Louisiana has focused on the top five (5) parishes with the highest impaired driving fatality rates in Louisiana ~ Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Calcasieu, and Orleans parishes. Between January 1, 2023 and March 31, 2023, the second quarter of the grant year, the MADD Louisiana Court Monitoring Program Specialist monitored Four Hundred Eighty-Six (486) cases and closed Nineteen (19) cases, and is currently monitoring over 1,000 cases. Additionally, MADD Louisiana's Court Monitoring Program Specialist worked to develop relationships with court staff in these parishes including district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, judges and clerk of court staff who might be beneficial with understanding any trends that may be going on in these courts.

Number of Open Cases By Courthouse

Disposition by Parish

*No disposition collected in Calcasieu Parish during this period.

Disposition of Other Charges

Gender of Defendants

Of the cases monitored during the period:

80% were men 20% were women

@MADDLouisiana

MADD Announces New National President and New CEO

MADD CEO Stacey D. Stewart

MADD National President Tess Rowland

DALLAS – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is pleased to announce that its National Board of Directors has named Stacey D. Stewart as the new CEO of the organization. Stacey’s appointment to CEO arrives at a moment of renewed urgency for the organization, as new data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that impaired driving will reach its highest levels in over a decade and that alcohol-related crashes are once again the number one killer on American roads. In this role, Stacey will continue MADD’s mission to prevent people who are under the influence from getting behind the wheel, to improve safety on our roads and to support the victims and families whose lives are forever changed by this preventable crime. Ms. Stewart is a transformational leader with extensive experience leading purpose-driven non-profit and for-profit organizations, marked by strong strategic acumen and an ability to drive new growth for organizations with rich legacies. Most recently, she served as President and CEO of March of Dimes Inc., the nation’s preeminent organization focused on healthy moms and healthy babies. She is globally recognized as one of the leading African American women who have served as CEO of multiple national and international organizations. Announcing the board’s decision, MADD Board Chairman Andrew Robinson said, “As we build the future of MADD, we strive for an organization that brings together people from diverse backgrounds, age groups and regions. We are thrilled to welcome Stacey Stewart to elevate MADD’s mission and to bring together new and diverse supporters to further champion our vision and mission to improve safety on the roads.” “I am honored by the opportunity to join and lead an organization with such a rich history and legacy, and especially one that is committed to driving change to solve such a critical issue,” said Stewart. “As the mother of a teenager behind the wheel, MADD’s vision and values are as relevant today as they were when the organization was founded. I am excited to lead the next chapter as we honor and build upon MADD’s inspiring legacy.”

DALLAS – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is proud to announce our new, National President, Tess Rowland, effective Feb. 6, 2023. On May 4, 2021, Rowland was driving to her job as a television news reporter in Panama City Beach, FL when a suspected drunk driver with drugs in the car hit her head-on, causing severe, life-threatening injuries. First responders on scene said it was a miracle that she survived, and she is continuing to recover from physical and mental trauma caused by this crash. “MADD has helped me get my life back,” Rowland said. “And while these injuries will be with me for the rest of my life, I’m driven to use my platform as the National President to ensure that no one else has to endure what me and my family went through.” As MADD National President, Tess’s focus is on empowering individuals to make life-saving choices while still enjoying a safe night out. She’s committed to being the voice for the voiceless and an advocate to fight for justice for those who have been lost to this crime. Tess graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Theatre Arts. She now resides in Houston, Texas.

Epidemic Plaguing America’s Roads Reaches Historic Levels

April 4, 2023

DALLAS – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is calling for more aggressive and urgent action to address a worsening crisis on U.S. roads after today’s announcement that alcohol-related deaths increased by 14% for the second consecutive year. Drunk driving caused 13,384 deaths in 2021, or 31% of all traffic fatalities in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The announcement marks another historic increase in roadway deaths. Overall, 42,939 people died in traffic crashes in 2021 – up 10% over 2020 and the largest spike in the history of NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System that dates back to 1975. Alcohol- related deaths jumped to more than 13,000 for the first time since 2006. This follows a previous 14% rise in drunk driving deaths in 2021. “It’s shocking to learn that 37 people a day, or one person every 39 minutes, is killed in an alcohol-related crash and another 1,000 are injured,” said MADD CEO Stacey D. Stewart. “These are not just statistics. These are innocent people, broken families and devastated communities impacted by a crime that’s 100% preventable.” Impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving and not using seatbelts continue to be the leading causes of traffic deaths and injuries. An estimated 2.5 million people were injured in crashes in 2021, up 9% from 2020. The rising number of roadway deaths represents an epidemic that deserves immediate attention at the highest levels of government. MADD calls on the U.S. Department of Transportation to prioritize equitable, high-visibility law enforcement that focuses on hazardous driving behavior such as impaired driving, speeding and not using a seatbelt, and to expedite a rulemaking that will result in all new cars being equipped with impaired driving prevention technology beginning in 2026, as required in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden in November 2021. “We know there are proven solutions that will help lower the number of these tragedies now,” said MADD National President Tess Rowland. “Every person can do their part by never driving when their plans include alcohol or other drugs, and our nation’s leaders need to move this to the top of their priority list where it belongs.”

Law Enforcement Recognition Luncheon

SAVE THE DATE July 18, 2023

MADD Louisiana is honored to host our Law Enforcement Recognition luncheon on July 18, 2023 at Parc 73 Reception and Conference Center in Prairieville, Louisiana. This event is to show gratitude and appreciation of the brave men and women, for keeping our roads and communities safe. For more information about this event, please visit the site below.

Madd.org/Louisiana/LER

SAVE THE DATE October 21, 2023

The 2023 Statewide Walk Like MADD 5k is the signature fundraising event to help us raise both awareness and funds to eliminate drunk and drugged driving. We hope that you will rally with us in Baton Rouge this October to help us create a future of No More Victims®. For more information and to create your team now, register at the site below!

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker