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PRETRIAL
ALCOHOL EDUCATION SYSTEM (PAES) – CONNECTICUT
WHAT IS THE PRETRIAL ALCOHOL EDUCATION
SYSTEM?
The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and
Addiction Services (DMHAS) offers the Pretrial
Alcohol Education System (PAES), a pretrial
diversion program, for first-time “Driving Under
the Influence” (DUI)/ “Operating Under the
Influence” (OUI) offenders in Connecticut. PAES is
also an option for current offenders who have not
used the program or had a DUI/OUI conviction
within the last ten years. The program is for
DUI/OUI offenders who were operating a motor
vehicle, a boat, a snowmobile, or an all-terrain
vehicle (ATV). DUI/OUI in Connecticut is based on
a blood alcohol content (BAC) limit of 0.08 for
people ages 21 and over, and a BAC of 0.02 for
anyone under age 21. For Connecticut
Legislation on DUI Laws, see OLR Research Report
2012-R-0279: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/rpt/2012-R-0279.htm
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
- The first component is an evaluation by a
DMHAS contracted agency. The offender will have
to pay a $100 application fee and a $100
evaluation fee. If the court determines that the
offender is indigent, the fees will be paid by
DMHAS. A report on the evaluation will be sent
back to Court Support Services Division and the
court. Based on the evaluation report, the
offender will be placed in either the second
component (intervention) or the third component
(treatment).
- The second component is an intervention which
may be either a Level One intervention class
(ten sessions of 1˝ hours per session) or a
Level Two intervention class (fifteen sessions
of 1˝ hours per session). Participants are
required to attend all classes for the entire 1˝
hours, attend class free from any non-prescribed
mood altering or attention altering substances
(including alcohol), participate in class and
complete all out-of-class assignments, and
refrain from all disruptive or threatening
speech or behavior.
- The third component is treatment, which is
the alternative to intervention classes.
Commonly recommended levels of treatment are
standard outpatient, intensive outpatient,
partial hospital, residential, and inpatient
detoxification. The minimum number of sessions
is twelve, and there is no statutory maximum.
PAYMENT
People referred for PAES are expected to pay the
fees either out-of-pocket or through their health
insurance coverage. However, if an offender is
found indigent by the court, the costs will be
paid by DMHAS.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The court is the final authority in these cases,
which includes determining which program component
the offender will be assigned to. A person who
successfully completes the program they were
assigned to, any additional treatment ordered, and
has no further legal difficulties may have the
original charges dismissed after one year. If the
offender does not successfully complete the
assigned programming, they may have their
prosecution on the original charges resumed.
OFFENDERS ARRESTED OUT-OF-STATE
DMHAS
Office of Pretrial Interventions can provide
referrals to Impaired Driver Programs for people
who were arrested for drunk driving outside of
Connecticut, and mandated by a court in another
state to attend an education program. NOTE:
Individuals arrested outside of Connecticut and
given permission by that state to use
Connecticut's program to meet that state's
requirements MUST contact the DMHAS Office of
Pretrial Interventions for appropriate referral.
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S
COMMUNITY SERVICES DATABASE:
Search by service name:
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SOURCE: Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services, Forensic Services
Division
PREPARED BY: 211/kq
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: December2012
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