August 13, 2014

York County, Pennsylvania we were utilizing the “catch and release,” method for drunk driving arrests. An individual would be stopped, arrested and transported for a blood alcohol draw. After the blood draw, the individual was released to family or friends.

The blood sample was then sent out of town and a police officer could not file charges until the blood alcohol count (BAC) result returned; this process could take six to eight weeks. If the arresting officer was not on duty or away on vacation when the BAC was returned, additional time would pass before charges were filed. The charges then went to a District Justice for processing who sent out a summons with a return date 20 days out. It was not uncommon for three months to pass before a drunk driver was seen by a member of the judiciary.

Not surprisingly, approximately 25% of these individuals committed new drunk driving offenses between the time they were initially arrested and the time they arrived at the county courthouse.

Realizing the danger these individuals presented, the criminal justice community in York County formed a task force to address the issue. We adopted police and Minor Judiciary (often called Justices of the Peace or District Magistrates) procedures and protocol – including 24/7 alcohol monitoring – for the arrest and bail of individuals receiving a second or subsequent drunk driving offense. We called the program “Target 25,” after the 25% we considered a danger.

Officers now run the record of every drunk driver. If the record shows the offense is a second or subsequent offense, the person is arrested on the spot and taken to see a judge. Blood samples are not required for the pre-trial hearing and the judge generally sets bail and requires 24/7 alcohol monitoring. The offender is also referred for treatment and placed on supervised bail.

The 24/7 or continuous alcohol monitoring is done through a device worn on the ankle. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the ankle devise monitors the offender for the consumption of alcohol. The monitoring is done by sampling perspiration on his/her skin. This periodic sampling throughout the day and night makes it difficult for the wearer to drink alcohol or tamper with the device without being caught. It provides both a system of accountability and encourages compliance by the offender.

Target 25 is helping offenders be accountable and is producing results for our county. Since its implementation on January 1, 2012, we have seen a 95% decrease in people obtaining additional charges while under these new procedures. In addition, victims’ claims due to drunk driving have decreased by over 50%. But more important than any statistic I can share is what this data represents, safer roads for our citizens.

Our data collection for this program is ongoing and we look forward to continuing to review and share what we find. For more information about our efforts with continuous alcohol monitoring contact me at [email protected]