A client charged with an OWI second offense in Michigan faces mandatory jail time and loss of license for at least one calendar year, more if there are additional prior offenses.  Assuming you have one prior DUI in the past seven years, you need to strongly consider these two issues.  

More importantly, what the heck is going on in your life that you picked up a second drunk driving? It doesn't make you a bad person, bad parent, employee, member of the community, or anything that can't be turned around, but it's really time to embrace help from outside sources.  

A sobriety court in Michigan could help you avoid that mandatory jail, and potentially give you the ability to drive a car in the near future vs waiting a full year.  The problem is your court MAY NOT have a sobriety court that is funded and approved by the State of Michigan.  And if it does and you do not live within the jurisdiction, the sobriety court could say you're not eligible.  

So here we are, we want to keep our license, avoid jail and get help, but all doors appear closed on us? Well not necessarily; I have successfully worked out sobriety court transfers in and out of many courts in Michigan.  It's not always easy to ask a court to sign away power over your case after breaking the law in their city, township or village - even within the county.  It's even trickier to get another court and probation staff to take one "someone else's problem" in a county or city which you didn't even break the law.  

So how do we do this? We get to work, and demonstrate hard work, motivation and we're worth the extra screening, time, paperwork and effort by all parties.  All of my clients begin a proactive program on day one, and this is the key part of working out this type of challenging transfer.  It's not easy to get people to agree without previewing your performance and motivations.  

If you or someone else has researched sobriety courts in Michigan, yet don't think you're eligible because of the court you're charged, let's talk about some options to get you where you need to be. 

When charged with a second offense drunk driving, the two major concerns are mandatory jail and loss of license for a year.  Under the law, a second offense DUI has 5 days mandatory jail attached to it, which is the minimum.

Many judges in Michigan will sentence clients to a longer term depending upon the facts of the case and the client's background and criminal record.  

The judge does not decide the fate of your license, but the Michigan Secretary of State will take action on your license; if you have 2 convictions within 7 years, your license is suspended for a full 365 days.  There are 2 ways to avoid this outcome.

Scenario #1 - You must get your case dismissed with a pretrial motion or win at a bench or jury trial.  Depending upon the facts of your case, there may be a fruitful pretrial issue such as a bad stop, bad arrest or a problem with the evidence such as the blood or breath test.  

Scenario #2 - You enter a sobriety court which is licensed by the State of Michigan.  In Michigan, a sobriety court entry can override the one year suspension by the Secretary of State and grant a restricted license.  An interlock will be required, and there is a 45 to 60 day waiting period prior to receiving the restricted license.  

Not all courts have a sobriety court, and some courts require you to live in the jurisdiction to enter the court even though you offended in that court's jurisdiction.  What do you do if you're not eligible for the sobriety court, or your court doesn't have one? 

For clients in this situation, we seek a sobriety court transfer.  Is that easy? No.  Do most people receive approval? No, but my clients have had a lot of success in the past. 

Why? Because my clients get to work on day one and we run down the sobriety court path on our own, mimicking many of the requirements of the court such as daily alcohol testing, counseling, AA attendance and education.   If we can show a sobriety court that the client is already doing what would be required of them, they are more open to "taking a chance" on my client. 

Clients contact me all of the time with felony DUI cases; in Michigan, three DUI's can happen over a lifetime, even if the prior cases are 10 and 30 years in the past.  Many counties in Michigan will not reduce or dismiss the felony charge, and consider a misdemeanor.  That's until our law firm arrives on the case.  

Because we're so proactive from day one, and make real changes in the life of the client, we're able to work out some creative deals with the prosecutor and judge to accomplish some big goals. Recently out law firm was able to take a felony DUI third offense and turn it into a misdemeanor DUI, which saved the client mandatory 30 days jail and up to 5 years in prison and we saved her driver's license by getting her into a sobriety court, because Michigan still follows the 3 DUI's in 10 years for purposes of your driver's license, and the sobriety court allowed her to avoid a hard suspension.

This deal was made in a county that had not reduced a felony DUI to a misdemeanor in years - other attorneys recognized this, and were shocked by the result - they asked what our secret sauce was for getting this result.  It's simple, work hard, keep your head down, commit to making changes in your life - go harder than you've ever gone before, and kick some ass.  Hard work is not a guarantee to success, but it's your best and only chance at shocking the world. 

In Michigan, sobriety courts are voluntary programs for a defendant’s to enter as part of a drunk driving case.  Sobriety court is for repeat offenders or offenders with very high BAC levels.  Defendants are not forced into sobriety court, but it’s usually an alternative to jail time, and an opportunity to maintain your ability to drive when your license would otherwise be taken away.
 
When you enter sobriety court, you’re committing yourself for 12 to 24 months of drug and alcohol testing, sometimes daily, and a total commitment to sobriety; violations will send you to jail for the maximum allotted penalty.  Essentially, you’re avoiding jail upfront, so if you mess up, you get the maximum.  

If you enter a sobriety court which is approved by the State of Michigan, you could be eligible for a restricted driver’s license, which you would otherwise not receive without sobriety court.  For example, if you are convicted of a second DUI within 7 years, your license will be gone for a year; enter sobriety court, and you might be back on the road in 45-60 days.  

Sobriety courts are a great option for a client who is seeking the available resources of the criminal justice system, and are ready to embrace close supervision.  The goal of the sobriety court is to reduce repeat offenses, get people sober, and head in the right direction.  

Not all courts in Michigan have a sobriety court, and if they do, most require you to live within the jurisdiction of the court due to the need to supervise you when you are outside of the courtroom walls.  

If my client is charged with a second offense DUI, or facing jail time for their case, and that particular court has sobriety case, then we put it on the table as a legitimate option.  Because all of my client’s are proactive from day one, it’s an easier transition into the sobriety court mindset.  Both the client and the sobriety court must agree to begin a working relationship.  A client must be deemed a “good candidate”.  

I have my clients screened and assessed early in the case by a substance abuse counselor, attend AA, participating in community service, alcohol and drug testing and engaged in substance abuse education.  If my client selects sobriety court as their best path, we’ve already demonstrated a genuine desire to make changes, and head down the right path going forward.  The interview and screening process goes a lot smoother when we’ve already checked off a number of boxes for the sobriety court team.  Many times, my clients receive shorter stints in sobriety court, because they’ve been deemed to have made progress, which leads to obtaining a driver’s license in a shorter period of time.  

When jail and loss of license is on the table, sobriety court is a great option when the strengths outweigh the weaknesses of a client’s case.  
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I’ve had clients save themselves months and years in jail, because together we put together a plan to earn a spot in sobriety court.  The same clients who were going to lose their job, have to drop out of school, sell their homes and potentially lose their family were able to avoid that because they earned their license back by entering sobriety court.  When a client of mine opts for sobriety court, I am extremely proud of them, because they know it won’t be easy, but it’s the best thing for them in both the short and long-term.  ​

This guide is designed to help you understand your role in Sobriety Court. Please take a moment to read it and share it with your family and friends. As a participant entering Sobriety Court, you are expected to follow all the guidelines in this handbook.

The Difference It Can Make

Sobriety Court provides an opportunity for early treatment intervention and involves enhanced supervision, counseling, and treatment for you to function in the community with continuing support. The goal of Sobriety Court is to assist you in the struggle against addiction and to help you make positive changes in your life. Your agreement to participate is a good first step. Once you complete the Sobriety Court Program, you will have a solid foundation to build on to maintain sobriety in a quality recovery program.

Overview of Program

The Sobriety Court Program was implemented in March 2008. The program is based on a team concept involving the Judge, the Sobriety Court Program Coordinator, three Intensive Sobriety Court Probation Officers, three Sobriety Court Defense Advocates, a representative of the Office of the Prosecutor, and various substance abuse treatment providers. All members work together to support you in addressing and treating the substance abuse issues that resulted in placement in the criminal justice system.

Sobriety Court consists of a minimum of 72 weeks of supervision and consists of two phases:

Phase I
Intensive Phase

Phase II
Aftercare Phase

Each phase is a minimum of nine months in duration. The first 36 weeks of the program are intense. You will meet weekly with your probation officer and alcohol counselor. Initially, you will also be required to submit to a daily alcohol/drug test and to attend AA daily. Later in this phase you will be required to attend the Impact Weekend. Also, you will appear before the judge at least once a month. If you have driving privileges, you must have the Ignition Interlock installed on your vehicle. Finally, you will have a curfew of 10:00 p.m. during the beginning weeks of the program.

Based on your performance, you may be eligible for a series of step-downs in the intensive phase. A step-down generally occurs after four and a half months in the program. The criteria for this reduction in program intensity is 90 consecutive clean/sober days, the accumulation of 112 points, and verification of an AA sponsor. If a step-down is granted, there will be a reduction in the frequency of probation appointments, testing, and AA attendance.

On successful completion of the first 36 weeks of the program and when you have earned 180 points, you will graduate from the Intensive Phase of Sobriety Court and move to the Aftercare Phase. This phase is less restrictive in supervision; you will report to the probation officer less frequently and will not have to appear before the judge.

The Sobriety Court Team; DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Drug Court Program; Judge
The Sobriety Court judge is aware of the significant impact of substance abuse on the court system, the lives of participants and their families, victims of criminal behavior, and the entire community. The judges of the District Court are committed to the Sobriety Court Program concept and work as partners to ensure the success of the team. The judge presides over the team meetings to review and evaluate your progress.

Intensive Probation Officer
Your probation officer is the case manager and assists you in meeting the conditions of the program. You will meet with your probation officer weekly in the intensive phase of the program. The probation officer identifies community resources of value to you to help you achieve a quality sobriety. Your probation officer attends the staffing or case review to inform the team of your progress.

Sobriety Court Coordinator
The coordinator is the administrator of the Sobriety Court Program and the director of the Probation Division. The coordinator, in consultation with the team, decides if you are eligible for the program. The coordinator maintains contact with all members of the team and attends the case staffing reviews. It is also the role of the coordinator to file any administrative or budgetary reports as required. Finally, the coordinator writes grants as needed according to state and federal guidelines.

Treatment Provider
At your first appointment with your probation officer, you will be referred to a counselor who is trained in addiction. You will be required to meet with your counselor a minimum of once a week throughout the intensive phase of the program. The treatment provider is required to maintain regular communication with your probation officer and to provide weekly progress reports. The treatment provider may attend the case conference review to report on your progress in treatment.

Defense Attorney
When you sign the Sobriety Court contract, you agree to give up the right to the attorney of your choice. You will be represented by the Sobriety Court Defense Advocates while you are in the program. Your defense advocate will advocate for you and protect your rights. The defense advocate participates in the team meeting and has participated in the drug court training.

Prosecutor
A representative of the Office of the Prosecutor is present at the case conference and participates as a team member. In the event of noncompliance with the program rules, the prosecutor will advocate on behalf of the State and will make recommendations to the team regarding the imposition of sanctions and your continuation in the program.

Law Enforcement
The local police agencies support the concept of Sobriety Court in the goal of reducing repeat drunk driving offenses. Law enforcement may be utilized to provide surveillance to ensure participant accountability with program conditions. A Sobriety Court police officer may make a home visit. The officer will search the residence for alcohol, drugs, and paraphernalia. If you are not home, your family member, spouse, or partner must admit the officer into the home.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Courtroom Behavior
Attendance at the review hearings with the judge is mandatory in Sobriety Court. Your dress should be appropriate and should not include hats or sunglasses. Additionally, clothes displaying offensive language or advertising alcohol or other drugs are not permitted. Loud and disruptive behavior is unacceptable. You must be on time for a review. Please turn off your cell phone when you enter the court.

Attendance
You are required to attend all probation meetings, counseling sessions, AA meetings, court reviews, and commencement ceremonies as directed. Failure to attend will result in progressive sanctions. In the event of a sudden illness and/or death in your immediate family, contact your probation officer immediately.

Honesty
The key concepts of Sobriety Court are honesty and personal accountability. Dishonesty will only impede the goal of a clean and sober lifestyle and will result in your termination from Sobriety Court. Dishonesty in any form, such as lying, adulterated drug screens, fraudulent signatures on documents, and fraudulent documents, will not be tolerated and will be severely sanctioned in Sobriety Court. Your honesty is essential to your participation in Sobriety Court.

Medication
You will learn in Sobriety Court that cross addiction is a real problem. Many of you are already using more than one substance but have one you like more than others. You will find it quite easy to change from one mood-altering substance to another. As long as you continue to alter the way you feel with alcohol or drugs rather than with new thoughts and activities, you will remain an addict. You may feel the need to continue to use a variety of drugs, particularly to help you sleep or to cope with pain.

While you are in Sobriety Court, you may not use mood-altering drugs or drugs commonly used to treat pain such as Lortab, Percocet, Vicodin, Darvon, Xanax, Darvocet, OxyContin, Valium, Ambien, Sonata, Klonopin, and Tylenol III. This is not a complete list of drugs you must avoid. To be sure that you will not test positive on a drug test and be sanctioned, you must check with your probation officer before taking any medication. You need to be particularly careful with cold medications and cough syrups. You have to take responsibility for all your drug use since your doctor, dentist, or pharmacist may not be aware of your addiction. You should inform your doctor, dentist, and pharmacist and other professionals who provide treatment to you of your involvement in Sobriety Court.

Drug Testing
You will be regularly tested for alcohol and drugs in Sobriety Court. If you fail to test, if you test late, or if you test positive, you will receive a jail sanction. If you tamper with or dilute a drug screen, you will receive a jail sanction and may be terminated from the program. In addition to testing at [name of facility] or a police department, you will be drug tested once a week, when you meet with your probation officer. If you lie about your use following a positive alcohol/drug test, you will be sanctioned with additional jail days.

Driving Privileges
If you have driving privileges (full or restricted), you must install an Ignition Interlock within 5 working days of entering Sobriety Court. It is preferred that only you drive the vehicle with the Ignition Interlock. However, if you allow someone else to drive the vehicle, you will be sanctioned for any positive tests that may occur.

Sanctions and Rewards
Noncompliance with program rules will lead to sanctions imposed by the court. The sanction is decided by the Sobriety Court team. Sanctions include but are not limited to the following: increased testing, community service, enhanced treatment, additional AA meetings, and jail. Rewards such as concert tickets, food coupons, and coupons to reduce the cost of testing may be given to participants who comply with program rules and demonstrate a commitment to recovery.

Termination
Sobriety Court is committed to providing you and all other participants with an opportunity to become alcohol- and drug-free. However, your continued participation in Sobriety Court is dependent on your compliance with program rules and regulations. Examples of noncompliance include the following:

1. continuing inability to remain clean and sober
2. failing to attend and participate in treatment sessions
3. altering or tampering with drug screens
4. using a motor vehicle after drinking
5. committing a new drunk driving offense
6. continuing noncompliance with program rules and regulations

If you are terminated from Sobriety Court, you will be sentenced to the maximum jail sentence your charge allows under the law. Termination from Sobriety Court is considered a last resort and is based on documented serious violations of the program guidelines.

TREATMENT

Substance abuse treatment and alcohol/drug testing are the cornerstones of the Sobriety Court program. You will be referred to treatment by the Sobriety Court intensive probation officer or you may choose your own counselor. If you choose your own, your treatment provider must be approved by your probation officer. Also, the treatment provider must agree to follow the program rules regarding the filing of treatment progress reports and must have a specialization in substance abuse issues. Finally, the treatment provider must agree to open disclosure regarding your progress in treatment.

COMMENCEMENTAfter nine months, when you have completed the requirements of the intensive phase and demonstrated a strong commitment to aftercare and recovery, you will move to the Aftercare Phase, the second nine-month phase of the program. You must meet the following requirements to graduate:

1. Earn 180 points.
2. Have a minimum of 90 continuous clean days.
3. Successfully complete each treatment phase.
4. Attend 72 AA or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings.
5. Obtain an AA sponsor.
6. Have no new criminal offenses.

Your family and friends are invited to our commencement celebration. The judge will acknowledge your hard work and your choice of an alcohol/drug-free lifestyle. Remember that your recovery is an ongoing process. The Aftercare Phase is designed to help you in your recovery.

ADMISSION TO SOBRIETY COURT: 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Alcohol and Drug Testing
You must submit to alcohol testing daily for a minimum of 90 consecutive days. The testing may take place at [name of facility] or at a police department. After the first 90 days, the frequency of alcohol testing may be reduced. All testing occurs between the hours of 5:30 a.m.–7:30 a.m. In addition to being alcohol tested, you will be drug testing one time a week, when you see your probation officer, and you may also be required to be drug tested at an approved testing facility. Your probation officer will provide specific directions on when and where you will test.

AA Attendance
You will begin Sobriety Court with the requirement of attending 90 AA meetings in 90 days. After that, the daily requirement may be reduced. AA attendance sheets must be signed by the meeting chairperson or table leader. A signature that is not accompanied by a phone number is considered invalid. Since Sobriety Court is an honesty program, the sanction for falsifying an AA sheet generally results in immediate termination.

As part of the AA requirement, you will be required to attend a Sobriety Court Alumni Support Group meeting once a month, while you participate in the intensive phase. Attendance at the meeting will be counted as an AA meeting during the week you attend. These meetings are held at the court on the first and third Tuesday of every month.

Counseling
Your probation officer will refer you to a substance abuse counseling program at your first meeting. While you are in the intensive phase, you will meet with a counselor at least once a week. You may also be asked to attend other treatment programs such as a 3/4 House. The treatment plan is determined by the treatment provider and the probation officer. However the Sobriety Court team may alter the treatment plan based on your progress in treatment. While you are completing the 90 meetings in 90 days in the Intensive Phase, your counseling session may be counted as an AA meeting.

Curfew
A 10:00 p.m. curfew is imposed when you enter Sobriety Court.

Probation Appointment
You will report to your probation officer once a week. If you fail to report to probation as scheduled, the judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest. It is very important to report for probation on time.

Review Hearings
You will appear before the judge once a month. Attendance at the review hearing is mandatory.
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Home Visits
The Sobriety Court police officer may make random visits. Having signed the Sobriety Court contract, you have given the officer the right to search your home. The officer must be allowed entry by anyone present in the home. Be aware that if the officer finds alcohol, drugs, or paraphernalia in the home, whether or not it is yours, you will be sanctioned. It is your responsibility to make sure no alcohol, drugs, or paraphernalia are in the home.

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