Impaired Driving Solutions Academy Courts

Meet our 2026-2028 academy courts

Impaired Driving Solutions selects exemplary impaired driving treatment courts to serve as academy courts. These programs serve as a national model for impaired driving treatment courts, hosting foundational workshops, receiving staff from other jurisdictions for site visits, and playing a significant role in research and media opportunities. The Academy Court Network was developed in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Learn more about each exemplary program below!

For questions or to schedule a visit, contact Impaired Driving Solutions project director Jessica Lange.

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2026-2028 Academy Courts

Athens-Clarke County DUI Treatment Court

Athens, GA

The Athens DUI Treatment Court prioritizes community safety by fostering lasting change in the lives of justice-involved individuals. To accomplish our mission, we adhere to the All Rise Adult Treatment Court Best Practice Standards and strive to build an alliance with our clients that promotes honesty, trust, and engagement.

We create individualized treatment plans that give participants a voice in their recovery. To promote healing and reduce chances of retraumatization, a trauma-responsive approach guides all client interactions and includes gender-specific counseling sessions, gender-specific court sessions, and trauma-informed treatment modalities. We make our spaces, including the courtroom, as safe and inviting as possible. We serve Spanish speakers with counseling services in Spanish and all materials and forms available in Spanish.

When addressing behavior and providing for a client’s needs, our team relies on the expertise of each team member to develop a multifaceted response that includes the appropriate treatment, supervision, case management, and public safety responses. We partner with many local agencies to provide a full continuum of treatment options for substance use and mental health disorders, safe and sober housing, medical and dental services, employment opportunities, transportation assistance, and educational and vocational training.

This is the fifth consecutive academy court designation for the Athens DUI Treatment Court.

Operations Manual Handbook

Buncombe County ASPIRE Court

Asheville, NC

The Buncombe County ASPIRE (Approaches to Supporting People in Recovery Everyday) Court, formerly known as the Buncombe County Sobriety Court, was founded in 2013 by Judge Julie M. Kepple with the goal of increasing public safety by providing support to those on the road to recovery. The court is a voluntary, postconviction program that lasts a minimum of 14 months and provides an opportunity for those struggling with substance use disorder to participate in therapeutic, evidence-based programming that uses best practices, trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and gender-specific dockets.

ASPIRE Court works collaboratively with community partners to create an individualized program using local resources to provide a chance for success for each participant. It operates as a team, including the judge, probation, the district attorney’s office, defense counsel, treatment professionals, and peer support specialists, all of whom share a deep passion and purpose that intentionally serves beyond job requirements to provide intensive supervision and rehabilitation. Presiding Judge Robin L. Merrell leads with a deliberate focus on equal access to justice while addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in Buncombe County.

This is the second consecutive academy court designation for the Buncombe County ASPIRE Court.

Operations Manual Handbook

Boone County DWI Court

Columbia, MO

The Boone County DWI Court was established in March 2010 to connect high-risk impaired drivers with a plan to address the root cause of their substance use, thus reducing their risk to public safety. The court receives strong support from local and state partners to offer accountability and treatment services to participants. The program uses a multitrack model and is available to serve participants of all risk and need levels with three or more DWI convictions. The program emphasizes recovery capital and offers individualized services including therapy, psychiatry, medication management, peer support, HEAT and HER curricula, Seeking Safety, MRT, job readiness training, and more. The court also offers a civil process to issue participants a limited driving privilege in accordance with Missouri laws.

The court supports participants after completion with a vibrant alumni group and is proud to have multiple graduates serving various roles on the team. The Boone County DWI Court applies the Ten Guiding Principles for DWI Courts and the All Rise and Missouri Treatment Court Best Practice Standards to guide its work.

This is the first academy court designation for the Boone County DWI Court.

Operations Manual Handbook

South St. Louis County DWI Court

Duluth, MN

Founded in 2008 by Judge Shaun Floerke, the South St. Louis County DWI Court works to break the cycle of substance use and crime through trauma-informed supervision, improved access to treatment and culturally responsive services, and strong partnerships with community providers. The court welcomed Judge Leslie Beiers as presiding judge in 2021. Under her leadership, the program maintains sobriety, employment, and commencement rates approaching 90%.

Known for fidelity to best practice standards, the South St. Louis County DWI Court delivers evidence-based and trauma-conscious interventions that promote lasting recovery. Participants engage in recovery wellness programming, meaningful community service opportunities, and receive ongoing support after commencement. The court prioritizes the development of recovery capital, helping participants secure stable housing, strengthen community connections, and regain legal driving privileges through the ignition interlock program.

This is the fifth consecutive academy court designation for the South St. Louis County DWI Court, reflecting the team’s sustained commitment to evidence-based practices, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuous program improvement.

Operations Manual Handbook

The Academy Court Network was developed in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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