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Beam Global Helps Fight Drunk Driving |
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Thursday, 08 May 2008 |
Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. and the National Center for DWI Courts (NCDC) have joined forces to raise awareness about the effectiveness of DUI Courts in Nevada where state legislators recently passed a law to establish additional DUI Courts.
With more than 17,000 people killed by drunk drivers every year, Beam Global and NCDC have partnered together since 2007 to bring national attention to the effectiveness of DUI Courts in reducing the recidivism rate of offenders. DUI Courts deal with hardcore and repeat drunk driving offenders by providing long-term, ongoing accountability and rehabilitation in addition to conviction.
DUI Court judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials assembled to support the expansion of DUI Courts in Nevada. NASCAR driver and team owner Robby Gordon joined Beam Global CEO Tom Flocco in thanking Nevada state
legislators for their support and to acknowledge the life-saving efforts of DUI Courts.
"Beam Global Spirits & Wine is committed to eliminating drunk driving," said Tom Flocco, president and CEO, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. "We support programs that reduce drunk driving and are committed to working with any state willing to help save lives by establishing more DUI Courts. Nevada's pilot DUI Court illustrates the effectiveness of this program. We encourage others join us in support of NCDC and the fight to eliminate hardcore drunk driving."
"We are pleased that Nevada has had great success with DUI Courts and applaud state legislators for passing Senate Bill 277," stated West Huddleston, executive director of the National Center for DWI Courts and the chief executive officer of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. "The Nevada DUI Court pilot program has proven that blending long-term treatment with the accountability, immediacy and certainty of court response works more effectively than punishment alone. We hope to build on that success by raising awareness for DUI Courts in Nevada and throughout the country."
Clark County, Nev., established a pilot program with one DUI Court in its jurisdiction eight years ago. Nearly 400 offenders have successfully completed the program. Of those who successfully graduated, only 12 percent had a repeat drunk driving offense within three years of their graduation.
"Nevadans have seen first-hand that DUI courts are an effective way to punish those who break the law and to deter drunk drivers by targeting repeat offenders and individuals with high BAC levels. Expanding this effort, along with programs to teach drivers about the dangers of impairment, are two ways that we can make America's roads and highways safer. As co-chair of the Congressional STOP DUI caucus, I applaud the men and women of law enforcement and our courts for protecting the public and for their support of efforts to prevent drunk driving," said congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV).
Beam Global and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) partnered in May 2007 to launch the National Center for DWI Courts, which focuses solely on hardcore and repeat drunk driving offenders. Beam Global is in its second year working with NCDC to help raise awareness about the effectiveness of DUI Courts. In 2007, 25 states established 29 DUI Courts to address hardcore drunk driving.
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