Teams come to Hennepin for training in DWI courts

The Hennepin County court that specializes in DWI cases held a training session this week to help establish similar programs in other communities around the Midwest.

There are 690 such courts around the country, according to the National Center for DWI Courts. The center is helping fund this week's training session.

Such training is "part of our mission," said retired Judge J. Michael Kavanaugh, senior director of the national center. "We want to teach them about evidence-based practices and help guide them in developing policies and procedures that will lead to the best outcomes in their communities."

Three teams, from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, sat in on a Hennepin County DWI court session this week. They are also received instruction on addiction and in setting goals for their programs.

Lisa Wilson, an associate judge from Peoria, Ill., came with a multidisciplinary team of nine hoping to establish a DWI court in her community. "There's definitely a target population we can serve by doing a specialty court," said Wilson. She said about 600 to 800 DWIs come through Peoria County per year.

DWI courts have reduced recidivism among repeat offenders by a reported 50 to 60 percent. Some Minnesota courts have reported a reduction of up to 69 percent.