CEO Message

In the Spotlight: DWI Courts and NPAMC 5

Welcome to the third issue of The Voice, the official newsletter for the National Partnership on Alcohol Misuse and Crime. Our readership is growing every week, and we’re working with both our Participating Organizations and other industry leaders to compile the latest, most relevant information available about alcohol misuse and its impact on the criminal justice system.

In this issue we’ve introduced two new sections. Research Summaries will highlight and compile peer-reviewed research relevant to our issue. And Legal Briefs will report on topical legal rulings from across the country. As always we continue to report and link to state, national, and international news briefs of interest to our readers. Don’t forget that the NPAMC website is where we catalog all of our news and information, so that you can search by issue or state for information you need.

In this issue’s Original Voice section, David Wallace, director of the National Center for DWI Courts, discusses some of the history of DWI Courts and the key components that are proving, through research, to have the most impact on reducing both the rate of repeat DWI offenses and the costs to the criminal justice system.

NPAMC 5—Save the Date!
I’m also pleased to announce the dates for NPAMC 5. This meeting is the culmination of 1 ½ years of hard work with all of our Participating Organizations, identifying the key areas of consensus and working to drive systemic change in the way we manage alcohol in the criminal justice system. The agenda is packed full of renowned speakers who will be presenting details on four Model Programs that have proven the most successful at reducing rates of alcohol misuse and crime. Please mark your calendars for June 18, 2010. Pew Charitable Trusts, the National District Attorneys Association, and the Institute for Behavioral Health are all sponsoring NPAMC 5, which will be held at the PEW Charitable Trusts Conference Center. Watch your email in April for a full agenda and be sure to RSVP. If you’re interested in attending but are not on our distribution list, please email me directly for more information.

I look forward to seeing you all in June!

Stephen K. Talpins
Chief Executive Officer
National Partnership on Alcohol Misuse and Crime