Bella Vista High to Host Real DUI Trial

Bella Vista High School students will witness the ruling in a real DUI trial from the stands of the school's assembly room.

The trial is real, according to Sacramento County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy officials, and is intended to provide students insight into the legal consequences of drinking and driving, including the defendant's arrest, detention, and imposed fines and penalties.

A Sacramento County Superior Court Judge will present through the proceedings and will conduct the sentencing of a first-time DUI offender in front of the students. Following the sentencing, the Judge will make a brief presentation and co-facilitate an interactive portion of the assembly. Chaplaincy officials explain the intent is to allow for significant dialogue among the students, defendant, judge, attorneys, law enforcement officers, teachers, and special guests.

Here is the official statement from Chaplaincy officials:

Conducting a DUI sentencing away from a county courthouse to a local high school is a two-prong approach of educating teenagers about the legal consequences of drinking and driving as well as the judicial branch of the government. Students have an opportunity to directly witness the legal consequences of drinking and driving, such as the defendant's arrest, detention, and imposed fines and penalties. They also have an opportunity to learn more about the role and decisions of the judicial branch of the government.

The trial is produced by Sacramento's Traffic Safety Awareness Program [TSAP], a joint effort between OTS, Sacramento County District Attorney's Office and Law Enforcement Chaplaincy-Sacramento. TSAP brings the DUI Court in Schools Program and Every 15 Minutes Program to local high schools.

The program will begin on Friday at 9:15 a.m. where approximately 1,000 students are expected to be in attendance. The assembly is open to the general public.

For more information about the program, people are encouraged to contact the TSAP program director 916-761-2649.