Perth Drink Driving Project
Potential participants in the Perth Drink Driving Project will
be interviewed by a Social Worker before sentencing. This will
happen when a case has been continued at Perth Sheriff Court for
the purpose of obtaining a
Social Enquiry and Perth Drink Driving Project Report.
Perth Drink Driving Project aims to enable drink driving offenders
to become more aware of their drinking habits, to accept
responsibility for their actions and to change their behaviour,
thereby reducing the likelihood of further offending.
Who can attend?
The course is available to men and women who would benefit from
examining and changing their behaviour, who have two or more drink
driving convictions within the last five years, or first time drink
driving offenders whose reading over the legal limit was
particularly high.
What format will the group take?
The project is run by Social Workers working with adult
offenders living in the jurisdiction of Perth Sheriff Court.
Eight to 10 participants meet weekly for two hours,
over 10 to 12 consecutive weeks. The issues
associated with drink driving will be addressed and
challenged. Group members will be expected to participate
fully in discussions and exercises in a group or on an individual
basis. Guest speakers with specialist knowledge may attend
certain sessions and use will be made of videos and other relevant
resources. Homework tasks will also be given.
What is expected of participants?
You must be willing to be made the subject of a Probation Order,
with a requirement of attendance at the course. The conditions
and expectations of the Order will be explained by the Social
Worker preparing your report.
You will be expected to attend every session. If you are absent
without acceptable explanation or prior agreement, you will receive
a warning. Following a second unacceptable absence you will be
excluded from the course and Breach proceedings will be initiated
by your supervising Social Worker, which will involve your Order
being returned to court. You must not attend while under the
influence of alcohol, solvents or drugs unless medically
prescribed.
Absence through illness, supported by a medical certificate, is
acceptable for one week. It is unlikely that you would benefit
sufficiently from the course if absent more than once. In this
event you may have to resit the course or your Order may be
returned to court.
What else do I need to know?
The group facilitators will provide a weekly report to your
supervising officer outlining your attendance and level of
contribution. A final report will also be prepared and forwarded to
the sentencing court. If appropriate the officer supervising your
Order may also seek its early discharge.
Travel
It is your responsibility to arrange travel to and from your
home. Expenses will be paid for journeys in excess of three miles
each way on the production of tickets, if using public transport.
In certain circumstances volunteer drivers may be engaged if other
methods of transport are unavailable or impractical.
