Judicial Attitudes toward Drug Abuse and Alcohol Abuse: Connecticut

Connecticut was in the news recently after the sentencing of the most recent celebrity to be charged with DUI. Actor Rip Torn was sentenced to probation after pleading not guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) following an arrest in December 2008. A judge approved the plan under which Torn will enter an alcohol-education program in addition to serving probation. Torn has had two previous DUI charges, and one conviction, from New York within the last 5 years.

Although not available to Torn due to his prior DUI conviction, Connecticut is one of the few states to offer a pre-plea alcohol diversion program to those charged with DUI. The program rewards successful participants with elimination of the DUI charge. Other states, like New York, offer pre-plea diversion programs to drug addicts only. … Continue Reading