The prevalence of repeat DWI offenses among drivers at state and national levels highlights the need to identify the underlying factors that prompt individuals to drive while impaired. According to studies, a significant number of first-time and repeat offenders struggle with substance use or mental health issues that can impair their ability to carry out daily tasks such as driving (Nelson et al., 2015; Shaffer et al., 2007). If left unaddressed, these problems can worsen over time and increase the likelihood of repeat DWI crashes on Texas roads.
Thus, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), developed a curriculum to train DWI criminal justice professionals in matters regarding DWI cases and Mental Health. TTI also conducts focus groups to encourage the development of effective strategies promoting positive behavioral change and successful completion of sentencing requirements.
Unlock On-Demand Training: Access Previous Year’s Insights Anytime, Anywhere
Flexibility is key to your professional development, and we’ve got you covered. Exciting news! This year, you will have on-demand access to the previous year’s training sessions on Mental Health and DWI topics. Dive into valuable content at your own pace, revisit key insights, and do it all from the convenience of your preferred device.
View the DWI and Mental Health Training Here
**NOTE** To take the course, you will have to create a free account with www.teachable.com
Topics covered in the on-demand DWI and Mental Health Training include:
- DWI and Mental Health:
- Identifying the impact of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in DWI cases.
- Mental Health Crash Course:
- Understanding common mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others.
- Recognizing signs and symptoms of mental health disorders.
- Substance Abuse and Co-occurring Disorders:
- Awareness of substance use disorders and their connection to criminal behavior.
- Recognizing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
- Risk of Recidivism:
- Understanding the relationship between mental health and the risk of recidivism.
- Assessing how mental health factors may contribute to criminal behavior.
- Mental Health Assessments for the DWI supervisee population:
- Importance of conducting mental health assessments in DWI cases.
- Identifying any pre-existing mental health conditions.
- Crisis Intervention:
- Crisis intervention techniques to de-escalate situations involving individuals in crisis.
- Understanding the impact of trauma on mental health.
- Suicide Prevention:
- Recognizing warning signs of suicidal ideation.
- Knowing how to respond to and prevent suicides within the DWI population.
- Treatment 101
- Identifying treatment options and referral practices.
Training Coordinator
For more information about the trainings, please contact the training coordinator.