San Diego City Wire

San Diego County's Probation Department has secured a $642,600 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support an intensive supervision program targeting high-risk individuals with serious felony and multiple DUI convictions. The program is scheduled to run until September 2025.

“This funding empowers our team to ensure community safety remains at the forefront of all we do by enhancing our ability to effectively balance support and accountability in the monitoring of and case planning for probation clients who have committed serious and/or multiple DUI offenses,” stated San Diego County Probation Chief Tamika Nelson.

The grant will cover various field operations, including multi-agency efforts aimed at reducing DUI incidents and unlicensed driving. It will also fund compliance checks during both business and non-traditional hours, alcohol testing, officer training in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), distribution of DUI "Be on the Lookout" (BOLO) alerts, and collaboration with courts and prosecutors to establish and enforce probation orders.

“It allows our department to continue making impactful strides toward assisting these probation clients in achieving their rehabilitative goals and in restoring their lives and families, increasing successful outcomes for both clients and public safety. We are grateful for this opportunity that positions us closer to accomplishing one of our main priorities, to reduce the number of impaired drivers on our streets,” Nelson added.

Barbara Rooney, Director of OTS, emphasized the importance of such programs: “Intensive supervision programs are essential in reducing the harmful impact of DUI offenses. This is one important measure to help prevent the tragic consequences of impaired driving and create safer roads for everyone.”

Funding for this initiative was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.