By K. Lavery, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – State auditor Claire McCaskill says some drunk drivers with multiple offenses are not being forced into the level of substance abuse treatment they need. An audit of the Missouri Department of Mental Health found that five percent of drivers with at least two DWI offenses were still being assigned to entry-level treatment programs. McCaskill says the study also found that offenders living at least 30 miles from advanced treatment providers were not required to attend those programs.
McCaskill says she hopes the audit will be a wake-up call that prompts the state to ensure that the level of treatment a person receives matches the level of the problem.