A GUIDE TO THE ILLINOIS DUI EVALUATION PROCESS

To begin with, you need to know that in Illinois, anyone arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs (DUI) must undergo an alcohol and drug evaluation before a judicial driving permit (JDP) can be granted by the Court, sentencing can occur for the DUI offense, or restricted or full driving privileges can be granted by the Office of the Secretary of State

The purpose of the evaluation is to determine the extent of the motorist’s alcohol and/or drug use and its associated risk to current or future public safety. The following areas are reviewed: the motorist’s driving history, chemical test results (BAC), Objective Test score and category, and the interview with an evaluator.

The focus of the interview is past and current alcohol and drug use, as it relates to your driving history. Motorist responses are checked against the driving record, the Objective Test score, the results of chemical testing, and possibly other corroborative sources.

Inconsistencies must be reconciled between the motorist and evaluator. If not, the evaluation will have no validity and could result in the following:

Denial of driving privileges by either the Court or the Office of the Secretary of State.

A request by the Court or the Office of the Secretary of State to undergo another evaluation at the motorist’s expense.

Delay of sentencing for the DUI or a delay in consideration for judicial driving privileges by the Court or restricted or full driving privileges by the Office of the Secretary of State.

So let me tell you exactly what information is required to complete the evaluation:

1) TICKETS-Police reports, court orders, and/or any information pertaining to the arrest.

2) NOTICE OF SUMMARY SUSPENSION – This indicates the chemical test result (BAC) or refusal to submit to chemical testing.

3) LAB RESULTS – If any blood or urine testing was done at a hospital or facility on day of arrest, lab results must be provided.

4) OUT OF STATE DRIVING ABSTRACT – If you lived and/or had a license in another state, a driving record will be required from that state.

5) MEDICATIONS-Name of any medications that were taken at the time of arrest or presently.

6) PRIOR TREATMENT INFORMATION- Including assessments, discharge summaries, diagnosis, etc…. from any treatment agency as a result of any mental illness and/or substance abuse.

7) EVALUATION FEE- Which can vary from provider to provider. A discounted fee can be assessed if you can prove and qualify for indigence.

When the evaluation is completed, a classification and a recommendation will be determined by the evaluator and recorded on the Alcohol and Drug Uniform Report form for the Court or the Office of the Secretary of State.

This form will then be sent to the Court or given to the motorist to take to the Office of the Secretary of State for the driver’s license hearing.

The classification of your interview will be one of the following:

-Minimal Risk
-Moderate Risk
-Significant Risk
-High Risk

What does this mean to you?

The classification indicates what kind of recommendation the interviewer is making in regard to your penalties for being intoxicated while driving.

INTERVIEW RECOMMENDATION

Here’s the minimum recommendation to the Court or the Office of the Secretary of State related to each classification:

Minimal Risk

Completion of a minimum of ten (10) hours of DUI Risk Education.

Moderate Risk

Completion of a minimum of ten (10) hours of DUI Risk Education and a minimum of twelve (12) hours of early intervention provided over a minimum of four weeks with no more than three hours per day in any seven consecutive days, subsequent completion of any and all necessary treatment, and, after discharge, active ongoing participation in all activities specified in the continuing care plan, if so recommended, following completion of the early intervention.

Significant Risk

Completion of a minimum of ten (10) hours of DUI Risk Education and a minimum of twenty (20) hours of substance abuse treatment and after discharge, active ongoing participation in all activities specified in the continuing care plan.
High Risk

Completion of a minimum of seventy five (75) hours of substance abuse treatment and, after discharge, active ongoing participation in all activities specified in the continuing care plan.

In all cases, it is at the discretion of the Court to determine what type of recommendation, if any, will ultimately become a part of the sanction for the DUI offense. However, if the alcohol and drug evaluation is for the Office of the Secretary of State in relation to the return of full or limited driving privileges, the motorist will be required to complete any recommendations contained in the alcohol and drug evaluation.

The motorist has the right to refuse the completed alcohol and drug evaluation, to withdraw from the process at any time, or to seek a second opinion by obtaining another evaluation. However, any information provided may be released to the Court or the Office of the Secretary of State, upon request. If the evaluation procedure is not completed, notice will be sent to the Court or the Office of the Secretary of State.

COST

The cost of the alcohol and drug evaluation is established by the program. It is the responsibility of the defendant to pay for the evaluation. However, programs must provide alcohol and drug evaluations at a reduced fee to motorists who can prove inability to pay the full cost according to established program standards.

LOCATION

The alcohol evaluation can be completed at a licensed provider that meets certain circuit court requirements. However, in Cook, Du Page, and Lake counties, the evaluation must be done by the designated agency at one of the following locations:

Cook County (Central States Institute of Addiction)

DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 3
721 N. LaSalle 5600 Old Orchard Rd 2121 Euclid Ave.
Room: 407 Room: 243 Room: 062
Chicago, IL 60610 Skokie, IL 60077 Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Tel: (312) 603-8880 Tel: (847) 470-7425 Tel: (847) 818-2885
Fax: (312) 822-3627 Fax: (847) 470-7430 Fax: (847) 818-2046

DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 6
1500 Maybrook Square 10220 S. 76th Ave. 16501 S. Kedzie Parkway
2nd Floor Room: 062 Lower Level
Maywood, IL 60153 Bridgeview, IL 60455 Markham, IL 60426
Tel: (708) 865-6338 Tel: (708) 974-6706 Tel: (708) 210-4480
Fax: (708) 865-6195 Fax: (708) 947-6713 Fax: (708) 210-4475

Du Page County(Department of Probation and Court Services DUI Evaluation Unit)

300 South County Farm Road, Suite A, Wheaton, IL 60187, (630) 784-3858

Lake County (Northern Illinois Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse)

Waukegan Waukegan
1113 Greenwood 2634 Grand
Waukegan, Illinois 60085 Waukegan, Illinois 60085
(847) 244-4434 (847) 775-0541

North Chicago Round Lake
2031 Dugdale Road 31979 North Fish Lake Road
North Chicago, Illinois 60064 Round Lake, Illinois 60073
(847) 785-8660 (847) 546-6450

REGULATIONS

Programs that conduct DUI evaluations for the Court or the Office of the Secretary of State are licensed and regulated by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Professional evaluators working in these programs must meet standards prescribed by the Department and complete additional training annually. Programs are inspected and must conform to applicable Department rules and regulations in order to maintain licensure.

COMPLAINTS

The Department has statutory authority to investigate programs that provide alcohol and drug evaluations to DUI defendants. Questions and/or complaints regarding DUI services rendered should be directed to:

Illinois Department of Human Services, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Division of Licensing and Certification, 100 West Randolph, Suite 5-600, Chicago, Illinois 60601-3297, (312) 814-3840.