Students Attend Real DUI Court

Santa Barbara- May 6th, 2010

Cate School students will participate in a Real DUI Court in School, "Choices & Consequences" May 11, 2010, 1:30 p.m., at the Santa Barbara County Superior Court #5 in Santa Barbara.  Not a mock trial, it’s called Real DUI Court in School for good reason.  Students attend actual criminal driving under the influence hearings in Superior Court after completing a six session alcohol and drug avoidance class at the high school.  A question and answer session with the Judge, Prosecutor and Defense Attorneys follows the formal proceeding.   The court then welcomes victims and defendants of real DUI cases to speak about true-life losses and the consequences they’ve faced as a result of alcohol or drug related driving. 

The goal of Real DUI Court in Schools is to provide an interactive, multifaceted and substantive experience for young drivers to change perceptions and attitudes about alcohol and drugs and reduce impaired driving by youth throughout Santa Barbara County.  It also encourages informed choice for prevention of becoming a passenger where a driver has been drinking.  It is presented in combination with other DUI avoidance programs such as “Every 15 minutes.”

Drinking and driving continues to be a problem for young drivers in Santa Barbara County.  Nationwide in 2008, “…31% of all drivers between the ages of 15-20 who died in auto accidents had been drinking.”  “…25% of drivers, (15-20) years old who were killed in crashes, had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher,” according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis.     

Real DUI Court in School was developed by the Office of the Administration of the Courts facilitated by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department Community Services Bureau.  It brings together the best resources of the Santa Barbara Superior Court, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Sheriff’s Department and Fighting Back Santa Maria Coalition.   

Members of the freshmen class at Cate School in Carpinteria are participating in this Real DUI Court in School.  The program will be offered for other junior and senior high schools during the Fall of 2010 and Spring 2011.

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org