County trying for DUI court grant
Washington County commissioners expect to give a green light to a grant application that would create a DUI court.
Jon Ridge, chief adult probation officer, filed an application for a grant through Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at the request of President Judge Katherine B. Emery.
The county hopes to receive $76,457 per year from October 2016 through Nov. 30, 2019.
In background information provided to the commissioners, Ridge wrote the aim of the program is to increase public safety, reduce the county jail population and to rehabilitate those who habitually drive after drinking alcohol.
Washington County consistently has more than 900 drunken-driving offenses per year, more than 1,900 crashes and an average of 27 traffic fatalities.
If the program is funded, the grant would enable the adult probation office to hire a probation officer and provide about $10,000 to Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission for case-management services.
DUI court would cease to exist in Washington County when state funding through PennDOT runs out.
The judge would be John DiSalle, who handles drug court.
Ridge said, “National data clearly supports strict supervision combined with treatment for this population as opposed to long-term incarceration.”