SPECIAL REPORT: Monterey County’s DUI court aims to cut down on repeat offenders

A Monterey County program is helping DUI offenders get back on track.

More than 20 percent of people with DUI convictions in the county have been convicted before, but a new DUI court is hoping to change that.

The DUI court is an alternative to typical prosecution.

“We continue that cycle of incarcerating people without really addressing the problem,” said Nona Medina, Collaborative Courts Analyst.

The DUI court, started in 2015, is attempting to break the cycle of just incarcerating people and not dealing with the problem.

“We have to understand that people aren’t necessarily just bad that come to the criminal system, they likely are dealing with things that can be difficult for any human being to deal with”

Michelle Cumming from Seaside told KION her DUI conviction was a result of her addiction to
alcohol.

“Some people told me you should have known better you used poor judgment,” said Michelle Cumming.

Last February, Cumming was at a work party when she got into her car drunk and rear ended a car on her way home.

“But guess what? I didn’t have judgment that night, I had absolutely none.”

The night changed her life forever as the DUI forced her to resign from a job she loved as a paramedic firefighter.

“To walk into the hospital with hand cuffs on and they go what you know Michelle? Yeah and that right there isn’t humbling I don’t know what is.”

As humiliating as it may have been, she credits that night for the first step to a new life.

“In a way I am blessed that I was halted, because people go down these deep dark holes over and over again and I think this particular program keeps you on track.”

Over the last year, Cumming immersed herself in addressing her alcohol problem.

The DUI court program has been there to hold her accountable.

“It’s helped me realize where I am in my life and it has made me a better person and more aware and on a healthy track.”

Success is determined by a series weekly check-ups, peer support groups meetings, regular drug and alcohol screenings and meeting court dates with Judge Burleson.

“Helping them see those core reasons and address those things and find alternatives and tools and how to cope with the abuse of alcohol and drugs is really at the core of how we succeed.”

The program looks to be making a difference, typically 60-percent of people who received DUIS in California get another, while only 8-percent of the people in the Monterey County’s DUI program have re-offended.

“Research has been done that demonstrates that this kind of a program does significantly reduce recidivism among this particular population,” said Chris Ruhl, Executive Officer Monterey County Superior Court.

The eventual goal change this voluntary program to something more.

“We’ll be starting by making the program mandatory with third time offenders and eventually evolve to second time offenders which is a bigger population.”

While Michelle Cumming admits she hasn’t fully conquered her demons with alcohol, she says the program has already improved her life.

“I’m just in a really good space right now and things are starting to roll into place and I’m getting to pay it forward and I will never stop,” said Cumming.

The DUI court got its grant to keep the program funded for its fourth consecutive year. Michelle Cumming said she plans to continue to share her story to help others struggling with addiction.