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In 2008, of the 37,261 fatal vehicle
crashes occurring in the United States, 31% could be attributed to
alcohol. More specifically, between 2006 and 2008, the state of
Missouri recorded 828 traffic fatalities due to alcohol or other drugs.
The Safety Council works with the state of Missouri, and county and
local court systems to provide educational classes and monitoring in the
areas of driving while intoxicated, driver improvement, stealing and
other misdemeanor offenses.
Substance
Abuse Traffic Offender Program (SATOP)
The Substance Abuse Traffic
Offenders Program (SATOP) mission is “to inform and educate drivers in
Missouri for alcohol-and drug-related driving offenses as to the hazards
and consequences of impaired driving, promote safe and responsible
decision making regarding driving, motivate for personal change and
growth, and contribute to public health.”
The St. Joseph Safety and Health
Council is a state-certified Offender Management Unit (OMU) which offers
screening assessments (Driver Risk Inventory Screening) to determine the
level of services needed for SATOP participants. Assessments
consist of:
Review of Department of Revenue Driving Record
Review of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
Administration of a computerized screening assessment
Personal interview with a Qualified Substance Abuse Professional
Service levels offered by the Council:
Offender Education
Program (OEP)
A 10-hour education course designed specifically to assist lower-risk,
first time offenders.
Weekend Intervention Program (WIP)
WIP is a level of service designed
for repeat offenders, or “high-risk” first-time offenders consisting of
48-hours of intensive education and counseling intervention methods.
The program is conducted in a restrictive environment.
Consumers needing to schedule an
appointment for an initial assessment, or register for OEP or WIP, may
call (816) 233-3330 or email
phil.delong@stjoesafetycouncil.org.
Click here for the
Current Schedule of Classes.
Probation Services
In 1991, the Buchanan and area
courts petitioned the St. Joseph Safety and Health Council to take on
the responsibility for their Court Supervised Probation. The Safety
Council began offering the probation services by monitoring the
conditions of probation as set forth by the courts. Conditions of
probation range from reporting monthly, maintaining gainful employment,
restitution, community service hours, attending alcohol treatment, AA
meetings or other educational programs, getting a GED for those without
a high school diploma, to all other requirements as assigned.
Individuals are normally placed on probation for a period ranging from
six months to two years.
Those individuals placed on
probation to the Safety Council are for various charges which include,
but are not limited to, driving while intoxicated, possession of drugs,
non-support, stealing, driving while suspended, bad checks, careless and
imprudent driving, violation of order of protection, property damage, or
unlawful use of a weapon.
To make an appointment for
Probation Services please call Phil DeLong at (816) 233-3330 or email
phil.delong@stjoesafetycouncil.org.
Driver Improvement Program
The Safety Council offers the
8-hour, state-certified Driver Improvement Program in both St. Joseph
and Maryville locations. The following schedule is subject to
change up to two days before the scheduled class.
Missouri Revised State Statute
302.202, passed in the fall of 2009, allows non-commercial
drivers who have received a non-alcohol related moving violation to
plead guilty, pay their fine and take the Driver Improvement Program. To
be eligible for this option, tickets must be issued in a county that
participates in the State of Missouri’s Fine Collection Center.
To see if your county
participates with this program, visit
www.courts.mo.gov
and click on Fine Collection Center.
A guilty plea is submitted by
simply mailing the fine payment to the address on the back of the
ticket, or by paying the fine on-line. Once the fine is
paid, individuals must complete the Driver Improvement Program within 60
days to keep the points off their driver’s license.
Motorist receiving municipal
traffic violations or violations in a county that does not participate
in the program must still adhere to all conditions of the respective
municipal or county court.
The Driver Improvement Program
curriculum used is the National Safety Council’s 8-Hour Defensive Driving
Course and teaches drivers how to identify potential driving hazards in
the attempt to decrease the risk of being involved in or causing a
traffic crash. This course may also be utilized by some insurance
companies as a means to reduce insurance premiums for their clients.
Individuals interested in taking the course for this purpose should
consult with their insurance agency to see if they qualify.
Individuals wanting to take the
Driver Improvement Program course in either the St. Joseph or Maryville
location must call at least one week prior to the class to enroll.
The cost of the class is $75 and payable to the St. Joseph Safety
and Health Council by certified check or money order. For more
information contact
janice.carter@stjoesafetycouncil.org.
Click here for a
Current Schedule of Classes.
Alive @ 25
The Alive at 25, 4-hour program
is geared towards the younger driver between the ages of 16-25
challenging them in their attitude and decision making while stressing
personal responsibility.
Click here for a
Current Schedule of Classes.
Adult & Juvenile Stealing
The Adult and Juvenile Stealing
classes are 4-hour programs offered to the courts for those people
arrested for shoplifting. The goal is to educate participants on the
ramifications of stealing and the consequences for their actions.
Click here for a
Current Schedule of Classes.
Adolescent Substance Abuse
Program
Teens may be referred to the ASAP
program by municipal courts or concerned parents so they may lean about
both the legal and health consequences of underage drinking, as well as
per pressure and other impacts of teen substance misuse and abuse.
Click here for a
Current Schedule of Classes.
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