About Second Chances

Second Chances, formerly known as the McCartney Center, was founded in 2005 after consulting with retired Floyd County District Court Judge Ralph McCartney on an idea to create an alternative to the existing program in place for persons convicted of OWI. It was believed that by creating a selection in the programs offered, The McCartney Center could better serve the community.

Under Iowa law, a person convicted of first offense operating while intoxicated (OWI) is sentenced to serve a minimum of 48 hours of jail time. In addition, the offenders must complete a course for drinking drivers.Second Chances offers a unique program combining the court ordered jail time with the mandatory classes.

Second Chances provides 26 hours of prevention information and is not a treatment program. The classes are conducted in a casual atmosphere where the participants spend a weekend in a double occupancy hotel room (smoking in rooms is permitted) with classes being held in the hotel’s meeting room. Meals for the weekend are catered at the hotel and are included in the registration cost.

Persons attending the weekend program must have already received their sentence AND MUST HAVE COURT APPROVAL for the time spent in the program to count as the 2 day jail sentence. Participation in the Second Chances program, although not sponsored or endorsed by the Iowa Courts, requires the approval of the individual judge involved in the case. In addition, the participants must have a substance abuse evaluation completed at an approved alcohol center.

Second Chances is under the direction of two experienced facilitators / instructors. The instructors are certified by Prevention Research Institute and meet Iowa’s Department of Transportation requirements for driver’s license reinstatement.

Upon successful completion of theSecond Chances OWI Program, each person attending the program will receive a certificate for their participation. Additionally, D.O.T. certifications are sent to the D.O.T. as required for driver’s license reinstatement. Facilitators also notify the Clerk of Court of the county in which the sentencing occurred that the class has been completed.

Click here to read a message from the facilitators.

 
 

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