A citation for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a serious offense in Illinois. If convicted on these charges, you may face serious consequences to your driving privileges. Your future employment opportunities also may be affected. In addition to these worries, you will also face large fines, court costs, and possibly even jail.

Upon pleading guilty to a DUI charge – or as part of sentencing – you also will undergo a DUI evaluation and possible treatment, which will identify any risk to the public, as well as recommend an initial intervention of treatment.

In Cook County, the Central States Institute of Addiction performs DUI evaluations at a cost of $250. Its assessment consists of a questionnaire and personal interview, which determines your frequency and amount of alcohol and drug usage. The evaluation also will determine:

  • Prescription drug usage;
  • Symptoms or indicators of abuse, dependency or substance use disorder – which will be used to assess what type and how much treatment is needed and;
  • Family history of drug or alcohol abuse/usage.

Understanding Your Evaluation

Based on information gathered from your evaluation, a Central States Institute of Addiction evaluator may classify you into one of four treatment levels.

1. Minimal Risk. The offender has:

  • No prior convictions or court ordered supervision for DUI, no prior statutory summary suspensions, and no DUI charge reduced to a reckless driving conviction; and
  • A BAC of less than .15 of your most current arrest for DUI;
  • No other symptoms of substance abuse or dependency.

2. Moderate Risk. The offender has:

  • No prior convictions or court ordered supervision for DUI, no prior statutory summary suspensions, and no DUI charge reduced to a reckless driving conviction; and/or
  • A BAC of .15 to .19 or a refusal of chemical testing as a result of the most current arrest for DUI; and
  • No other symptoms of substance abuse or dependency.

3. Significant Risk. The offender has:

  • One prior conviction or court ordered supervision for DUI, or one prior statutory summary suspensions, or a DUI charge reduced to a reckless driving conviction; and/or
  • A BAC of .20 or higher as a result of the most current arrest for DUI; and/or
  • Other symptoms of substance abuse.

4. High Risk. The offender has:

  • Symptoms of substance dependency (regardless of driving record); and/or
  • Within the 10-year period prior to the date of the most current (third or subsequent) arrest, any combination of two prior convictions or court ordered supervision’s for DUI, or prior statutory some reason suspensions, or prior DUI charges reduced to reckless driving convictions, resulting from separate incidents.

What Will Be Asked of You

If an individual is evaluated at the Minimal Risk level, they are required to complete a 10-hour DUI risk education program. This program meets for four (4) sessions, lasting 2.5 hours each. The program will educate individuals on: how alcohol affects your body; how alcohol impairs your ability to safely operate a vehicle; how other drugs – both legal and illegal – may affect your body and impair your mental and physical capabilities; substance abuse and dependency and how it affects a person and his/her family and friends; Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and the levels which impair your ability to act normally; and Illinois DUI laws and the possible penalties, including the progressive sentencing of DUI laws, which may result in long term prison sentence. There are also pre-test and post-test scores, which are given to gauge a person’s ability to retain information regarding these subjects.

Different Risk Levels

If an individual is evaluated at the Moderate Risk level, they are required to complete a 10-hour DUI risk education course, as well as 12 hours of early intervention treatment and program. Early intervention is another level of treatment, which is specifically tailored to the individual.

If an individual is evaluated at the Significant Risk level, they are required to complete a 10-hour DUI risk education course, along with 20 hours of substance abuse treatment, finishing with six (6) sessions of aftercare treatment.

If an individual is evaluated at the High Risk level, they are required to complete 75 hours of substance abuse treatment, along with the recommended continuing care plan sessions. This treatment is more rigorous and may consist of inpatient treatment.

Getting An Evaluation

Deciding whether to complete an evaluation depends on the strength of the prosecutor’s case against you. If you are planning on negotiating and pleading guilty to your DUI charge, you will need to schedule an evaluation with the Central States Institute of Addiction in Cook County, or a licensed treatment provider in another county.

These evaluations take several hours and consist of both an interview and written portion. Based on the answers provided, along with the number of prior DUIs and/or other alcohol and drug related offenses, you may be assessed at one of the four risk levels. Each level corresponds with an increased amount of treatment and intervention from a licensed counselor or treatment provider. The process to complete the evaluation and treatment may be quite intensive, but it assists an individual in treating his/her alcohol and drug related problems.

Legal Help for DUI Charges

Fighting your DUI charge and having a Chicago DUI attorney in your corner to fight for you is important. Call us today at 312-940-8330. We represent drivers throughout Chicagoland.

Blog written by Attorney Eric Tibbs. Learn more about Eric here.