Public Safety

Probation Receives Grant to Monitor High-Risk, Repeat DUI Offenders

SD Probation DUI Unit officers with Probation Chief Adolfo Gonzales. ith
The San Diego County Probation Department DUI Unit with Chief Probation Officer Adolfo Gonzales, at left, at an awards ceremony.
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The San Diego County Probation Department received a $369,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to supervise high-risk, repeat DUI offenders with suspended or revoked licenses.

“The grant helps our officers provide intensive supervision to felony DUI offenders and we are grateful for it,” said Ruben Leyva, Assistant Chief Probation Officer. “It partially funds positions and enables officers to conduct compliance checks after hours. Without this important funding, high-risk DUI offenders would not be properly supervised due to the increasing numbers of high-risk and repeat DUI offenders being released into the community and placed on probation by the courts.”

The one-year grant period started Oct. 1 this year. OTS has awarded San Diego County Probation Department DUI Grant funding for 13 years. Grant funding will be used to make sure offenders are following the court ordered terms of their probation, including home, work and office visits, alcohol testing, and warrant service operations.

In addition, funding will also be used to develop “Hot Sheets” that identify repeat DUI offenders, work with court officials to establish probation orders for DUI offenders on probation and provide Standard Field Sobriety Test training to officers.

This grant is aimed at reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol-related collisions, as well as lower DUI recidivism rates.

“Supervision programs help make sure DUI offenders are held accountable for their actions and not putting others at risk,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Our coordinated effort with the San Diego County Probation Department reduces the chances of probationers re-offending.”

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

DUI Probation Officers supervise individuals in San Diego County seven days a week during non-traditional hours, including weekends and holidays. In addition to enforcing sobriety, officers work with community partners to provide appropriate resources for each individual and to assist them with their overall compliance with the conditions of their grant of probation. The support provided by the Probation Department and collaboration with local agencies is essential for clients’ successful completion of probation without reoffending.

As a member of the San Diego County Law Enforcement Task Force against Youth Access to Alcohol, the DUI Unit supports several alcohol enforcement activities in the community and works with local law enforcement and stakeholders to improve road safety and educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving.

Yvette Urrea Moe is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact