Judge Carlton BiggsPresiding: Honorable Carlton Biggs

Judge

Harbor Justice Center-Newport Beach is one of five justice centers in the county that process criminal matters. The county is home to approximately 3 million people and is the third largest trial court in the state and the fifth largest trial court in the United States. The Harbor Justice Center- Newport Beach jurisdiction is made up of the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest and Newport Beach. As a result of considerable local interest in developing a court to handle the large number of repeat DWI offenders the Harbor Justice Center DUI Court Program began in October of 2004 after receipt of a grant from California’s Office of Traffic Safety. The DWI Court program has been specifically designated and staffed to supervise nonviolent repeat DWI offenders.

The Mission Statement is:

“To reduce DWI recidivism, enhance community safety, and foster a healthier and safer life for the participants and their families by increasing treatment, supervision, and accountability of the high-risk impaired driver.”

As of December 31, 2008, a total of 686 people were admitted to the program. 125 participants are currently active. In 2008 125 participants graduated, and since the inception of the program, 326 participants have graduated.

There is an orientation phase and three treatment phases.

  • The 30 day minimum Orientation Phase consists of indoctrination, assessment, and assimilation.
  • In PHASE I, the treatment plan is developed.
  • PHASE II, is on-going treatment.
  • PHASE III, Stabilization-Mentoring and Achievement-Graduation take place as well as a focus on daily living skills. This phase is designed to support a participant in his or her return to the community as a productive and responsible member. Further, the final phase is designed to assist a participant’s successful transition from a lifestyle with the DWI Court structure to a lifestyle more representative of what the participant will experience following graduation. The minimum length of the program is 12 months.

Graduation criteria includes: an acceptable level of sobriety (no positive or missed tests for a minimum of 180 consecutive days); consistent employment or sufficient involvement in an educational program; proof of completion of GED/high school diploma; completion of community service hours; attend a MADD victim panel; stable living arrangements and healthy interpersonal relationships as determined by the treatment team; an understanding of personal problems of addiction, criminal behavior, and relapse prevention as demonstrated through a written graduation application; and a definitive aftercare plan.

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