Cooperation and communication between and among criminal justice agencies can ensure that DWI offenders are detected, appropriately sanctioned and removed from the road to protect the public and reduce alcohol-related deaths and injuries. Good cooperation and communication enable police officers to correctly identify impaired drivers as first offenders or repeat offenders at the roadside, and make sure that compelling and much-needed evidence is correctly gathered, documented, and presented in court. Cooperation and communication can also provide prosecutors and judges with essential information to make meaningful decisions regarding cases, offenders, and sentencing. Finally, cooperation and communication can ensure that offenders are effectively monitored by probation and parole, and that offenders receive the necessary follow-up and support to reduce recidivism. This guide has been designed to help agencies identify common barriers to cooperation and communication and provide insights into practical ways these issues can be addressed. More importantly, it also contains a brief survey that will help agencies gauge how well they are doing. (Author/publisher)
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