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Sober DWI court focuses on rehab

Houston, Texas---(FOX26)  Harris County is number one in the country in this category, but it's not something we should brag about.

We are the number one county in the country when it comes to DWI fatalities. Today the Sheriff's office announced it's trying something new to change that.

Back in 2008 the county started a program called DWI Sober Court. It's an alternative sentencing program heavier on rehabilitation than traditional punishment.

Today the court had a graduation where people who've completed the program shared their stories, people like Juan Rodriguez. "Basically I had an eye-opener. I knew I had to make a change. Through the grace of God I'm sober now." he says.   

To make sure others are staying sober, last week the Sheriff's Department started doing random checks of those participant to make sure they aren't violating terms of their probation.

"Some people do whatever they can to manipulate the devices so our deputies will come by at any given moment to confirm the use of the devices.." Says Sheriff Adrian Garcia.

They're allowed to do these checks because it's a condition of their probation. Refusal or failure to comply means a trip to jail.

They program has it's work cut out for it. Just twelve hours before the graduation ceremony police say Timothey Norman Perry-Price lost control of his car and killed pedestrian Jeanette Diane Johnson.

He's charged with intoxication manslaughter.