Sonoma County Probation Department awarded grant to supervise people with multiple DUI convictions

The Sonoma County Probation Department has received a $220,000 grant for an intensive probation supervision program for high-risk DUI offenders with multiple DUI convictions.

The funds from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant will go toward supervision of probationers to make sure they are following court-ordered terms of their probation and to prevent probations from re-offending.

“We share the OTS and Sonoma County Court’s interest in ensuring a safe community by providing prevention, opportunity, and accountability for high-risk probation clients,” Sonoma County Deputy Chief Probation Officer Wardell Anderson said.

“The safety of our communities is a top priority and intensive supervision programs hold DUI offenders accountable for their actions,” said OTS Director Barbara Rooney. “This concerted effort improves the safety of our roadways by addressing the devastating impacts impaired driving has on our communities.”

The probation grant will pay for a deputy probation officer to conduct case management, warrant operations targeting probation violators who do not appear in court, officer training in Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), distribution of DUI “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) alerts, and collaborating with courts and prosecutors to establish probation terms and conditions. The grant program runs through September 2023. 

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Learn more about the Sonoma County Probation Department at: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/justice-services/probation

Learn more about the California Office of Traffic Safety at: https://www.ots.ca.gov/

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Department Contact:
Wardell Anderson, Deputy Chief Probation Officer
Wardell.Anderson@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-2149

 Media Contact:
Sylvia Lemus, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org  
(707) 565-3040  
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403