DUI Investigation & Prosecution: Protecting the Arrest and Winning the Case-Rockford

PURPOSE OF COURSE:  This 7-hour course was created by Jennifer Cifaldi, the Illinois Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor. This program was developed to provide prosecutors and officers with the knowledge and skills to successfully investigate, prepare and prove their impaired driving cases in the courtroom and remove these dangerous drivers from our Illinois roadways.  Additionally, they will be provided with a case law update to help them navigate their way through DUI courts. 

COURSE OVERVIEW:  Every year, impaired drivers cause thousands of traffic deaths and injuries.  Prosecutors and law enforcement officers need the skills to be sure that they are successful in the courtroom.  Additionally, with the decriminalization of adult-use cannabis, DUI crashes have increased.  This course will help instruct prosecutors how to navigate a successful DUI investigation and recognize some of the differences between alcohol impairment and impairment caused by cannabis.

For the Participants: This program will provide attendees with the tools on how to investigate and evaluate their DUI cases from start to finish.  They will be instructed on how to identify indicators of impairment.  They will also review the basic fundamentals of Field Sobriety Tests.  They will know how to charge the appropriate DUI section based on the circumstances of the arrest.  They will also learn how to secure blood draws from the hospital and to successfully use them in their cases. They will be taught courtroom techniques and learn how to combat common DUI defenses.  They will walk away from this course with the confidence needed in their DUI cases so as not to feel compelled to negotiate the case to a lesser offense.  Attendees will have a better understanding of the Illinois Implied Consent [1]Warnings that officers use and will be able to assist the officer on the witness stand in persuading the judge/jury what drug impairment looks like on a DUI case.  Additionally, they will be well-versed in the relevant case law.

This class consists of classroom instruction and the facilitation of discussion amongst participants.  Additionally, participants will be provided current case law relevant to DUI prosecutions.

COURSE GOALS:  By the end of this course, students will be able to do the following:

• Understand the seven subsections of the DUI statute (misdemeanor charges)
• Have basic knowledge of the five most commonly used Warnings to Motorist
• Know the basics of Field Sobriety Testing
• Assist the officer in articulation of alcohol/drug impairment in the courtroom
• Know how to use hospital blood results in the DUI case
• Successfully defeat common DUI defenses
• Cite the relevant case law

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:    This course is conducted using the following methods of instruction:

• In-class review of student handout materials
• In-class lecture with the assistance of PowerPoint
• In-class general discussion