110 NW First Avenue, Ste. 1062
Ocala, FL 34475

Office: 352-401-6704
Fax: 352-401-7896

Aaron Carpenter, Coordinator

The Marion County DUI Court was established by Administrative Order M-2000-24 on October 10, 2000. Since then, the Marion County DUI Court mission has been to reduce the number of repeat DUI offenders by providing alternative community-based treatment, thereby increasing both offender productivity and public safety. DUI Court is structured to provide repeat DUI offenders with intense outpatient treatment while on supervised probation. Additionally, the offender’s compliance and progress will be monitored by the Court through regular court appearances. The Court also follows the guiding principles of the highly successful Drug Court Concept.

Program Overview

The DUI Court has elements within the court such as mandatory substance abuse treatment, case management, random drug and alcohol testing, and community supervision through Salvation Army Corrections. Statistics from operational DUI Courts have shown that recidivism decreases substantially after completion of the entire program. Participants are twenty percent less likely to re-offend.

After entering a plea to the charge of DUI, the offender will be placed on probation for a period of one year. During probation the offender will be expected to comply with the statutory requirements pursuant to Florida Statutes 316.193 and 322.28. Additionally, the offender must complete all three phases of DUI Court. Each participant’s progress through the Three Phases will be reported to the entire DUI Court through weekly team staffing held prior to the status conference court proceeding. A review of their treatment and overall program status will be discussed, along with any program violations and recommendations. The presiding Judge finalizes all incentives and sanctions.

Beginning October 1, 2012 participants were required to provide a portion of costs towards their individualized treatment plan. A $38 weekly program fee for drug screens and cost of probation supervision is required and will be collected for the first 90 days. Thereafter, a $50 weekly fee will be charged for the remainder of the program. These fees will be paid at the Department of Court Alternatives.

Participants are also being required to pay their mandatory minimum fines and other costs as ordered. Mandatory contribution from participants has therapeutic benefits, allowing participants to be empowered by having a sense of ownership through their steps of sobriety and recovery.

PHASE I

Minimum of 14 weeks and during this time you are required to:

  • Breathalyzer/SCRAM Ankle monitor requirement for the first 90 days.
  • Attend Court once a week.
  • Attend 90 AA Meetings in 90 days. Additional meetings may be required upon treatment provider recommendation.
  • Attend a minimum of 1.5 hours of group/individual therapy sessions, 2 times per week.
  • Maintain a journal outlining what you learned or gained from treatment and support groups; bring journal to each court appearance.
  • On remote breathalyzer for the first 90 days. Submit to a minimum of 2 drug screens per week.
  • Comply with any additional requirements recommended by the treatment provider.
  • Offender will be responsible for all costs associated with the DUI Court Program including treatment sessions, drug screens, and Driver Improvement School.
  • Enroll in the DUI School (cannot move to Phase II unless enrollment is verified).

Payment plan available

PHASE II

Minimum of 22 weeks and during this time you are required to:

  • Attend Court every two weeks.
  • Attend a minimum of 3 AA Meetings per week. Additional meetings may be required upon treatment provider recommendation.
  • Attend a minimum of 1.5 hour group/individual therapy sessions per week.
  • Maintain a journal outlining what you learned or gained from treatment and support groups; bring journal to each court appearance.
  • Submit to a minimum of 3 random alcohol/drug screens per week.
  • Comply with any additional requirements recommended by treatment provider.
  • Offender will be responsible for all costs associated with the DUI Court Program.
  • Complete a minimum 500 word essay.
PHASE III

Minimum of 16 weeks and during this time you are required to:

  • Attend Court once a month.
  • Attend a minimum of 3 AA meetings per week. Additional meetings may be required upon treatment provider recommendation.
  • Attend a minimum of 1.5 hour group/individual therapy sessions.
  • Submit to a minimum of 3 alcohol/drug screens per week.
  • Comply with any additional requirements recommended by the treatment provider.
  • Offender will be responsible for all costs associated with the DUI Court Program.
  • Relapse prevention will be an essential element of Phase III treatment and shall be addressed for at least 1 hour during the group/individual session.

Completion of the program results in “Congratulations for Transition” to your ongoing recovery and healthy life.

Treatment providers are required to enforce a strict attendance policy for all group/individual therapy sessions and all Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. Violation of any of the terms of probation or non-compliance with any of the above requirements may result in the offender’s probation being violated. Violation of Probation will result in the offender being ineligible to further participate in the DUI Court Program.

ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE