Problem Solving Courts

DUI and/or Domestic Violence Courts

Notice: AOC is currently unable to update the information contained on this webpage. As a result, data and informational items may not be current.

For the most current list of contact information for all problem-solving courts, please visit THERAPEUTIC COURTS – Washington State Association of Drug Court Professionals and washington association of drug courts (wsadcp.org).

A DUI court is a distinct post-conviction court system dedicated to changing the behavior of the alcohol-dependent repeat offender arrested for driving while impaired (DWI). The goal of the DUI court is to protect public safety by using the drug court model to address the root cause of impaired driving: alcohol and other drugs of abuse. DUI courts often enhance their close monitoring of offenders using home and field visits, as well as technological innovations such as Ignition Interlock devices and the SCRAM transdermal alcohol detection device.

A felony domestic violence court is designed to address traditional problems of domestic violence such as low reports, withdrawn charges, threats to victim, lack of defendant accountability, and high recidivism, by intense judicial scrutiny of the defendant and close cooperation between the judiciary and social services. A permanent judge works with the prosecution, assigned victim advocates, social services, and the defense to ensure physical separation between the victim and all forms of intimidation from the defendant or defendant’s family throughout the entirety of the judicial process; provide the victim with the housing and job training needed to begin an independent existence from the offender; and continuously monitor the defendant in terms of compliance with protective orders and substance abuse treatment. Additionally, a case manager ascertains the victim’s needs and monitors cooperation by the defendant, and close collaboration with defense counsel ensures compliance with due process safeguards and protects defendant’s rights.