MADD LOUISIANA COURT MONITORING
1st Quarter Report October 2021 thru December 2021
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.
CURRENT TRENDS
For the 2021-2022 grant year, MADD Louisiana will focus on the top five (5) parishes with the highest impaired driving fatality rate in Louisiana ~ Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, and Orleans parishes.
Between October 1 thru December 31, 2021, the first three months of the grant year, the MADD Louisiana Court Monitoring Program Specialist monitored one hundred and sixty-two (162) new cases and closed thirty-four (34) cases. The following graph shows the disposition in the parishes that were monitored these months. Additionally, MADD Louisiana's Court Monitoring Program Specialist worked to develop relationships in her parishes with court staff including District Attorneys, Assistant District Attorneys, Judges, clerk of court staff that may be benifical with understanding any trends that may be going on in these courts.
Of the 34 cases closed during the 1st Quarter: 52% Guilty 9% Deferred Prosecution* 9% Dismissed 15% No Contest less than 1% Disposition Sealed
65% males 30% females Other notable demographics:
*Deferred prosecution under Article 894 included.
Maintaining the presence of a court monitor in the courtrooms through MADD's Court Monitoring Program can affect positive change on adjudication and sentencing of defendants.
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PARTNERSHIPS
MADD Louisiana's Court Monitoring Program Specialist will be working with the New Orleans Regioinal Traffic Safety Planning Coalition, as well as the Capital Regional Transportation Safety Coalition. Both 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 two coalitions.
Become a MADD Court Monitoring Volunteer
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* The estimated traffic fatalities in the first half of 2021 are the highest they have been since 2006, according to new data released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Now more than ever, we need everyone to join us in the fight to end this 100% preventable crime. To learn more, contact:
April Higgins, MADD Louisiana Court Monitoring Program Specialist 225.926.0807 April.Higgins@madd.org
Follow us on Facebook for more information on MADD Louisiana's Court Monitoring Program.
@MADDLouisiana
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