DWI Programs

♦ Meeting dates for 2025-2026 (PDF) – Updated

The Sandoval County Prevention Program implements the following strategies identified by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention:

• Education
• Information Dissemination
• Alternatives
• Community Based Process
• Environment Strategies

Sandoval County Prevention Program offers the community Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug Abuse prevention information which can be attained at various events throughout the county such as a local health fair, the State Fair, or at our Designed Driver Booth at various events. The staff at Sandoval County Prevention Program participates in community events such as Move with MADD and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.  The Sandoval County Prevention Program contracts with Sandoval County Middle Schools and Rio Rancho’s Independence High School to provide students Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug prevention curriculum and also with Independence High School students to create billboards and videos to address underage drinking in Sandoval County.  The Sandoval County Prevention Program also collaborates with Cumulus Radio to provide discounted Uber rides under the Take a Ride on Us Program on holidays and special occasions throughout the year.

If you or a family member need to fulfill the conditions of your probation as directed by the Sandoval County Magistrate Courts, we are here to help. The Sandoval County Misdemeanor Compliance Program (SCMCP) provides our residents with the appropriate level of probation supervision with an accredited Court Compliance Officer, who will assist them to meet the obligations mandated by the Courts. SCMCP works with individuals who are DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), DUI (Driving Under the Influence), and alcohol/drug-involved DV (Domestic Violence) clients. Compliance is an important step to making the next positive steps to recovery and improved behaviors.

SCMCP programming strives to provide offense-specific referral services for its clients and to ensure improved Court Compliance Program communication in the management of DWI/DUI and alcohol/drug-related DV cases through enhanced data collection, data entry, and data management. Referrals to SCMCP come from the Courts. SCMCP works with the Sandoval County Magistrate Court, the Cuba Magistrate Court and the Tribal Courts located within the County.

The DWI Program provides treatment to 1st offenders, DWI Multiple Offenders, Domestic Violence Offenders, and Offenders referred to the program for Anger Management and other Substance Abuse issues. Self-referrals are also accepted. All Counseling services are provided by licensed counselors who provide a clinical assessment Clients are referred to treatment which consists of treatment planning, individual and/or group therapy, and Acu-detox (Acupuncture Treatment for Substance Abuse) based on their clinical assessment.

Sandoval County DWI Program provides treatment to all 1st Offenders, all DWI Multiple Offenders, all Domestic Violence Offenders, and Offenders referred to the program for Anger Management and other Substance Abuse issues.

Treatment program includes the following groups:

• 3 Domestic Violence Groups (52-week program)
• 7 Multiple Offender Groups
• 1 Specialized Group for Offenders with additional needs
• 1 Anger Management Group
• 7 Substance Abuse Groups
• 1 Aftercare Group
• 1 First time Offender Group
• 2 DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Treatment) Groups
• 1 Parenting Group

A total of 25 in-house groups are provided per week addressing substance abuse and domestic violence issues which provides treatment to more than 280 offenders per week.

Individual Counseling is also provided to offenders requiring or requesting additional counseling services.

Acu-detox (Acupuncture Treatment for Substance Abuse) is also offered to offenders. Acupuncture decreases cravings for alcohol and drugs, reduces withdrawal systems, relieves tension and anxiety which occurs when trying to stop using alcohol and drugs, and helps offenders relax. These treatments can clear the mind, increase energy and help offenders gain a sense of well-being. Acupuncture itself is not a substitute for traditional and evidence-based treatment, but is best used in addition to treatment. All offenders are encouraged to participate in Acu-detox which is offered twice a week at the Sandoval County DWI Office.

The Sandoval County DWI Program provides treatment at no cost to the offender.

The treatment staff consists of the Executive Administrator, two Mental Health Counselors and one contracted Mental Health Counselor.

Sandoval County DWI Program receives recertification from the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) as the Domestic Violence Offender Treatment/Intervention Program for Sandoval County. The program also was recognized for meeting all requirements and providing services as per the CYFD DVOTI Rule (8.8.7.18 NMAC – Rp. 8.8.7.18 NMAC, 05/29/09), with notification sent to the Courts in Sandoval County that the program can continue to receive referrals for these court-ordered services.

Each participant must have an MRT workbook. There is a separate workbook for domestic violence. Each workbook focuses on a target population, such as substance abusers, multiple offenders, etc.

MRT is conducted in weekly groups where clients present homework from one of the MRT workbooks. Group facilitators use objective criteria to evaluate the offender’s successful completion of each of the program’s 12-steps. Each step has homework and objective assignments that offenders complete prior to group meetings.

The primary MRT Workbook used for adult offenders in substance abuse treatment is “How To Escape your Prison”. The program has 16 steps with 12 of these typically completed in 30 group sessions held in accordance with the implementation of other substance abuse, DV groups, etc., that offender must attend. Offenders complete homework for each group prior to coming to the session. In the group, each offender presents his or her homework and the facilitator/group passes the client to the next step or has the client redo the homework based on criteria objective.

All MRT groups are open-ended meaning that new clients can enter an ongoing group at any time. Each group session will usually have new clients as well as some finishing the program.

MRT for batterers (those referred to program for alcohol-involved domestic violence) follows the MRT steps and also has sections covering the issues of power and control. This workbook “Bringing Peace to Relationships” is used as the primary treatment method for DV offenders. Offenders may also be required to attend groups addressing their substance abuse issues and any other treatment that may be included in their treatment plan. This curriculum is divided in 24 modules with each module completed in a group session. Offenders complete homework for each module prior to coming to a session. In each group each client presents his or her homework and the facilitator/group passes the client to the next module or has the client redo the homework based on objective criteria. MRT meets CYFD requirements for batterer treatment programs and is also an NREPP program.

MRT provides a continuity of care. MRT is a systematic step-by-step cognitive restructuring approach with objective tasks and exercises for each of its steps. Since the systematic steps and tasks of MRT have objective completion criteria that are used in all MRT groups, this allows for clients to enter any MRT group to complete treatment requirements. This “continuity of care” is unique to MRT in that offenders participating in MRT can enter other ongoing MRT groups and continue working on their current point in the treatment process.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is also available and used in our program. DBT is a modified type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others.