OREGON – The Ogle County New Horizons DUI Court team attended a National Center For DWI (NCDC) Foundational Training in Athens, Georgia.  
The team consisted of Judge Clayton Lindsey, Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow, Ogle County Public Defender Dennis Riley, Polo Police Chief Jon Mandrell, Court Coordinator Brooke Plachno, Probation Officer Stacey Noble and Treatment Provider Kevin Buss of Sinnissippi Centers, Inc.  
During the three-and-a-half day intensive training the team was instructed by NCDC faculty which are nationally recognized experts in the field. The program was developed and presented by NCDC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and topics included the DWI treatment continuum, DWI target population, community supervision and alcohol/drug testing, multi-disciplinary team and DWI court phases and requirements.  The team’s training expenses were funded by an Illinois Department of Transportation grant through the University of Illinois - Springfield.

The Ogle County New Horizons DUI Court is the latest addition to the over 10-year history of Problem Solving Courts in Ogle County. The DUI Court began in October 2018 with the goal of making Ogle County’s roadway’s safer by subjecting DUI offenders to intensive substances abuse treatment, community supervision and accountability to the Court.  
 “This program assures that multiple DUI offenders are receiving the treatment needed to overcome a powerful addiction under judicial scrutiny,” Lindsey said. “It is a win-win to address a significant problem in our society. I am proud to be a part of this dedicated team.”
 “As one of the founding members of the Ogle County New Horizons Drug Court, I have had the opportunity to be part of a program that has made our community safer over the last 10 years,” Morrow said. “The application of the Drug Court philosophy to DUI offenders is the logical extension of this program to enhance public safety.  The training provided by the NCDC helped us sharpen our skills in that regard.”  
About DUI Courts
DUI courts are specialized, comprehensive court programs that provide individual treatment, supervision and accountability for repeat DWI offenders. These specialty courts follow the well-established drug court model and are based on the premise that impaired driving can be prevented if the underlying causes, such as substance use and mental health disorders, are identified and addressed. A large body of research supports the effectiveness of DWI courts to lead participants out of the justice system and into long-term sobriety.