The Contra Costa County Probation Department has been awarded a $389,700 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to monitor high-risk, repeat DUI Probation criminals.
Currently, the Probation Department is supervising 202 DUI probation criminals.
Grant funding will be used to make sure DUI probation criminals are following the court ordered terms of their probation, including home, work and office visits, alcohol testing and warrant service operations.
In addition, funding will be used to develop the Habitual Offender Tally, also known as “HOT Sheets,” that identify repeat DUI probation criminals to local law enforcement agencies. The funds will also be utilized to assist Probation in working with Court officials to establish probation orders for the DUI clients being placed on probation.
This grant is aimed at reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol-related collisions as well as lower DUI recidivism rates.
“Prevention and treatment are valuable tools in reducing DUI recidivism rates,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Monitoring programs are intended to steer probationers in the right direction.”
The grant will fund Probation Department personnel to monitor drivers on Probation for felony DUI or multiple misdemeanor DUI convictions, including conducting unannounced fourth amendment waiver home searches, random alcohol and drug testing and ensuring those on probation are attending court-ordered DUI education and treatment programs.
They’ll make sure you have your covid-19 vaccine as well when they do home searches. However, you are exempt if you are an illegal, pedophile, or of an certain race.
Like many other idiotic California programs, they’ll probably use the grant money to pay the DUI probationers not to drink!!!
Well silly me.
I thought that was an integral part of their job.
I can’t help but wonder if the probation department isn’t just another colossal failure of our supervisors and their poor management of the County.
Democrat problem solvers…. just throw more money at it!
Problem Solved.
Also make sure they are only driving vehicles that have their ignition interlock device and not their “other” vehicle that doesn’t have it. This happens a lot.
Let’s see if it makes a difference, highly unlikely. Nephews father has 3 DUIs in CCC and 2 more in surrounding counties and still drives and violates probation without any remorse. Last two DUIs involved crashes and fifth DUI was with my 6 year old nephew in the car who was injured. 100 days in jail and he’s back to driving his car and no regard for his probation terms. This county is a joke!! Be safe out there
Yeah but who is monitoring the probation officers? Most of them are popping pills a drinking themselves to bed everyday. Being the law doesn’t make you above the law. You know who you are. Privately going on disability for your addiction so you can party more..County workers need more supervision.
” … including conducting unannounced fourth amendment waiver home searches … ”
Right, because their Constitutional rights don’t matter. This is how it starts. Then, the Governor declares a mask mandate because he knows what’s best for you. You are little more than children in the eyes of authoritarians.
@Gittyup…you mean when you commit a crime that you’re convicted of, some of your rights suddenly become restricted?
Wait till you find out about prison – your mind will be blown!
The offender has a choice.
Either serve your entire sentence in custody or accept an early release with probation conditions.
Like consume no alcohol, drive only if licensed and insured and subject yourself to search with or without probable cause.
Parole like probation is the lowest form of custody.
This search is not a general search warrant that can be used on anyone. It specific to one person who is still subject to the Court.
At sentencing, the offender waives their right to search and seizure. There is no violation of fourth amendment waiver of home searches as it is part of the terms and conditions of their probation that they agreed to.
Maybe it’s just the way it is worded. Just seems wrong to me. Sounds like they’re bragging about their ability to infringe his/her rights. What are they looking for anyway? Alcohol? Drugs? Evidence that incriminates him/her of other crimes? Unless him/her are driving drunk in a car, I don’t see the need for such a search. I’ll admit I am totally unfamiliar with the entire realm not having had any experience with it.
The DUI offenders this grant is referencing are high risk meaning they are not just a routine first timer. Most often a term of probation is to not consume or possess alcohol. Therefore when a “probation search” is conducted it would be a violation of their terms if they have alcohol in the residence. It would also be a violation if they tested positive for alcohol, indicating they had been drinking.
Also with regard to the home searches, imagine one of these high risk offenders (multiple DUIs, high BACs, some resulting in injury or even death) has a refrigerator full of alcohol and they are still drinking. Most of the time in these cases we aren’t talking about just one beer. With a high level of drinking comes a high level of impaired judgment which they had already proved they lacked with the first two or three DUI convictions. It’s hard to trust that they would suddenly have the wherewithal to stay home and not get into a car putting everyone on the road and the community at risk.
@1st Hand and @ Janus Thanks for the info. That certainly clarifies the issue.
“unannounced fourth amendment waiver home searches?”
So, you get a DUI and your home can be searched?
Unbelievable.
The Probation department is controlled and serves the county supervisors- vote for new supervisor(s).
County DA is up for re-election next year- vote.
Different sentence outcomes, Judges- vote.
The DUI grant has been awarded to the Probation Department for almost the the past 10 years. It has actually helped reduce recidivism for these repeat offenders who typically have 4 or more DUIs and/or cause injury or even death. They are held to a higher standard than your average person on probation and chances of consequences are much higher and at times swifter.
DUIs convictions being criminal can be difficult to understand because anyone who decides to drink really has the potential to get one. Go out on a Friday night intending to just have a glass or two of wine and think you feel fine enough to drive home. Most people learn their lesson after a first conviction when they see the rules they agreed to follow, the cost of an attorney and DUI program, cost of dmv fines, etc.
This grant is referencing those that don’t get it after their first, second, third. Imagine not being able to just stop drinking for your length of probation. I for one am grateful that they are held to a higher standard of supervision than they were before this grant existed.