2021
MADD’s Court Monitoring Program enlists court monitors to observe and document what happens in the courtroom during impaired driving case proceedings. The program was created to ensure that impaired driving offenders are prosecuted and justice is achieved.
Court monitoring is a tool proven to affect the adjudication process and is recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as an effective countermeasure to re- duce impaired driving 1 . Court monitors on the local scale can impact the handling of impaired driving cases by their mere presence in the court room. Court monitoring is intended to enhance transparency and accountability within the criminal justice system and reduce the likelihood of repeat offenses. One way this goal is achieved is by sharing data and observa- tions with law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, and the public to promote awareness of impaired driving and ensure accountability for all impaired driving offenders. To reduce future offenses, MADD® supports swift and unbiased treatment of all impaired driving cases. 1 Richard, C. M., Magee, K., Bacon-Abdelmoteleb, P., & Brown, J. L. (2018, April). Countermeasures that work: A highway safety countermeasure guide for State Highway Safety Offic- es, Ninth edition (Report No. DOT HS 812 478). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Connecticut State Report (reporting period: 1/1/2020 - 12/31/2020)
This report is designed to present observations and trends relative to the six counties monitored and is not intended to be a statistical analysis.
Guilty
170
64%
Pending Cases Monitored
305
54%
Pre-Trial Alcohol Education Program
50
19%
Adjudicated Cases Monitored
266
46%
571
Total Cases Monitored
Disposition Sealed
46
17%
*The Pre-Trial Alcohol Education Program (AE)* may be used by people who are charged with driving a motor vehicle or a boat under the influence. The program requires individuals to complete a 10-15 week educational or treatment program. Those who complete the pro- gram may be eligible for dismissal of charges.
Key Findings and Observations MADD Connecticut’s court monitoring program recruits and trains volunteers and staff to observe and collect data on misdemeanor impaired driving offenses. Court monitoring is intended to increase transparency and accountability within the Court system. Monitors collect data while observing impaired driving cases. MADD Connecticut plans to continue to grow the sampling size and report on additional trends in years to come. Through the examination of data from the 2020 year, the following general observations were made:
Upon review, 29% of impaired driving arrests in CT represented the ages of 30-39. While the percentage of cases for ages 21-29 is quite high at approximately 22%, this is still below the national average of 32% (based on cases monitored by the MADD court monitoring program nationwide). In Connecticut, we educate our teens and parents through Power of You(th), Power of Parents, and SMART programs. While each program is different, they all educate on the dangers of underage drinking and marijuana use while also providing real and impactful stories from those affected by it. Our Power of You(th) and Power of Parents are open to the public and serve more than 4,600 individuals each year. MADD’s SMART program is a court recommended diversionary program for those under the age of 21 who have received their first offense related to possession of alcohol, possession of marijuana, or certain non-DUI traffic offenses. This 2-hour class teaches safe driving habits as well as exposes the dangers of underage drinking, marijuana use, and impaired driving. MADD believes it is paramount that we continue to educate youth on the dangers of underage drinking, marijuana use, and impaired driving to prevent future offenses. To learn more about teen drinking prevention. Please visit https://www.madd.org/the-solution/teen-drinking-prevention .
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY DRUNK OR DRUG- IMPAIRED DRIVING, MADD IS HERE TO HELP. CALL OUR VICTIM/ SURVIVOR 24-HOUR HELPLINE AT 877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435).
Driving a vehicle while impaired is a dangerous crime, yet continues to happen across the United States. Each year, about 1 million individuals are arrested. What happens after those arrests depends on the criminal justice system. As a MADD court monitor, you can get the insider’s perspective on the judicial system while making a vital contribution to your local 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. Court monitors achieve the work of MADD’s Court Monitoring Program by doing the following:
Remind law enforcement that MADD wants to see their cases prosecuted to the fullest extend 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 more information about court monitoring efforts in your state, please visit madd.org/courts .
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