24/7 Sobriety Program Nominated for National Award
PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Larry Long’s 24/7 Sobriety Program was selected as a Midwest regional finalist for the Council of State Governments (CSG) Innovations Award. The selection was announced at the CSG Midwest Regional Summer Meeting in Rapid City on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. The CSG is in their 22nd year of honoring one program throughout the nation for a cutting-edge idea that might be beneficial to government or its citizens.
During the CSG Midwest Conference Long’s program was selected as one of two Midwest programs to move on to the National CSG Conference. The two Midwest winners will be among 8 programs across the nation to be recognized. The eight finalists will compete for the overall national award at the winter CSG Meeting in Omaha in December.
Attorney General Long introduced the program in January 2005 as a pilot project in three counties. It has since been expanded into 57 counties. Defendants arrested for second offense drunk driving or any felony are required to stay sober. Those offenders are required to submit a twice a day breath test to demonstrate their sobriety and avoid jail. The program also offers alternative testing including the SCRAM bracelet, drug patch and drug urinalysis. These alternatives are for those offenders that are not able to get to a testing facility twice a day.
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