Kosciusko County judges may soon be adding a new dimension in their penalties for motorists convicted of drunk driving.

The courts have thrown their support behind a proposed program designed by a local counselor to ensure the motorists are aware of the potential consequences.

First-time offenders would be required to sit through a session in which victims of drunk driving explain how it has affected their lives. Often, such panels include people whose loved ones have died in drunk driving accidents.

"This approaches the social aspect of it in that you're not just affecting yourself, that you're not just taking your own life in your hands, that you are potentially inflicting physical and emotional wounds on other people," said Frank Choate, a Medpark counselor who hopes to create a victims' impact panel similar to those operated in Elkhart and Noble counties.

The panel can be more effective than the typical public service video. "It's like the difference in seeing a movie and a well-done play," Choate said.

Except the panel members aren't acting.

Choate thought of establishing a local panel after seeing one in Elkhart County. "It was very moving," he said.

Choate is volunteering his time and the program is not part of counseling services provided by his employer, MedPark, which along with the Bowen Center, provides counseling to drunk driving offenders referred by the courts.

The panel will likely meet once a month at a location not yet determined.

Officials hope to establish the panel by the first of the year and are seeking volunteers who would be appropriate for the panel.

Volunteers would be screened. The panel would consist of people who are capable of conveying their story and would avoid involving people who are still early in the grieving process, he said.

One person has already stepped forward and offered to sit on the panel, Choate said.

To a certain degree, the program can be beneficial for both the panelists and the offenders.

The program's goal is not to stress abstinence, but rather good judgment, Choate said.

"The point is, don't drive if you do drink," Choate said.

Superior Court III Judge James Jarrette, who has overseen drunk driving cases for 18 years, said he thinks the program could deter repeat offenders. He and Superior Court II Judge Joe Sutton both support the idea.

Offenders, by nature, are usually consumed by their own problems at the time of their court case.

Once the case is adjudicated, the offender tends to put the issue behind him.

"In that situation offenders very seldom think about the (victims)," he said.

The program could alter the perspective.

The courts "become just so busy with processing the cases that oftentimes the victim and the victim's families are not brought into it. I think there's a need for that and this is a good way to do that," Jarrette said.

Elkhart has used the program for four years and operates it through the Center for Community Justice. Although its success may be hard to gauge, officials tracked the first 300 participants and only 9 percent have since had a drunk driving conviction.

The center's director, Al Wengerd, said that level of recidivism is pretty good.

He said finding panelists has been a challenge, but that the program has never been held up for a lack of panelists.

"It takes a lot of work to get the panelists to prepare for this," Wengerd said.

"You want panelists who can be honest and direct with their feelings, but on the other hand, it doesn't do any good to rant and rave to people," he said.

The panel meets about once a month. Elkhart charges a $5 fee to participants to help cover costs. Choate said they may adopt a fee.

Anyone interested in serving on Kosciusko County's panel can call 372-7875 or 800-746-4673. [[In-content Ad]]