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What is the McCartney Center? The McCartney Center is an Iowa weekend OWI jail diversion program. It is an alternative to jail for people convicted of first offense operating while intoxicated. Along with being an alternative to jail, the McCartney Center provides the mandatory Iowa Department of Transportation Drinking Drivers Education training, all in the same weekend. COURT APPROVAL IS A MUST TO ATTEND. Time spent at the McCartney Center will count as the mandatory two days in jail. Classes are held at a hotel where students spend their weekend in a casual atmosphere and educational setting. Students may wear casual clothing and will share a hotel room unless they wish to pay extra for a private room. All instructors are certified by the Prevention Research Institute in compliance with the Iowa Department of Transportation's requirements for driver's license reinstatement. The McCartney Center is a Prairie Ridge Addictions and Treatment program. However, the McCartney Center is NOT a treatment program. It is educational program. More about the McCartney Center 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. The McCartney Center 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 McCartney Center 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. The McCartney Center 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 the McCartney Center 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. Why attend the McCartney Center OWI Program?
McCartney Center OWI program registration fee is $385. This includes hotel room, meals, D.O.T. certificate, and notification to Clerk of Courts. |