Nevada Grant: Las Vegas Court Expands DUI Program
A $110,000 award will fund the 2027 intake for a treatment program that replaced jail time for repeat offenders.
By Mateo Thompson ·
Las Vegas Justice Court will receive $110,000 to continue a program for repeat drunk drivers.
The Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety awarded the grant to support the 2027 DUI Treatment Court. The initiative began in 2003 for individuals charged with misdemeanor offenses. The court uses this funding to place participants in treatment rather than additional jail sentences.
The program requires offenders to attend regular treatment sessions and submit to random alcohol and drug tests. Technology monitors their progress. This includes alcohol sensors, GPS tracking, and ignition interlock breath devices. Judge Cynthia Cruz stated that the program addresses underlying substance abuse. She noted that the process helps change how people think about driving under the influence. Cruz said the court could not serve as many repeat offenders without this specific grant.
Seventy people enrolled in the program during the previous year. Three participants left or were terminated, resulting in a 96% retention rate. The grant also pays for a specialty courts coordinator. This individual screens defendants and evaluates their substance abuse and mental health needs. The coordinator ensures participants are connected to treatment and community resources. The court tracks their progress throughout the period.
The funding supports the 2027 cohort of the DUI Treatment Court.
