But on Friday mornings, with his robe stashed away in his office closet, he spends his time as a supporter for a newly implemented program designed to give persistent offenders of alcohol abuse a second opportunity. He routinely repeats the same line to individuals he has seen walk in the courtroom time and time again only to face another charge for an alcohol-related offense. This time, with a room full of supporters who are facing the same requirements and court officials who don't want failure to be an option, Dalton hopes they listen to his message. "I'm going to be their biggest supporter, but I'm also going to hold them accountable," he said. "When they screw up, they will suffer the consequences. When they do well, they will reap the benefits." In October, the 12th Judicial Circuit Court began a DWI program in Warren County designed to give non-violent repeat offenders a way to move on with their lives despite prior convictions. During the entire process, participants will also be going to work. Unlike Drug Court, which has been a regular program in Warren County since 2002, the DWI Court will not erase a person's previous conviction. Instead, an offender must comply with numerous requirements to complete the three-phase program. Currently, the DWI Court has five participants, said 12th Judicial Court Administrator Christie Becker-Markovich. "We are making these people start believing in the community," she said. "We're going to know where they are and everyone that knows them is going to know where they are." When a DWI Court participant is convicted, the person will receive shock time and be allowed to continue work. Early in the program, participants are required to go to treatment eight hours a week, attend Alcohol Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, meet their parole officer weekly, phone in every day between 5:30-7:30 a.m., be tested randomly for alcohol or drugs, and obey a 10 p.m. nightly curfew. In addition, an officer may visit a participant's home and do random searches for any alcohol or drugs. As the participant meets the requirements, their court appearances and meetings with officials will decrease. "We know what they are doing 24 hours a day," Dalton said. By going to prison following a conviction, Becker-Markovich pointed out individuals will get cleaned, but will resort to old habits, such as drinking and driving, when they return home. In this program, participants are not supposed to be around alcohol at any time. "Perfect practice makes perfect play," Becker-Markovich said. "We are making them practice perfect in their own backyard." To be eligible for the DWI Court, individuals much be a persistent or aggravated DWI offender, 17 years or older and a resident of the 12th Judicial Circuit. Participants, however, can't have a history of violent or sexual offenses, been convicted or charged with alcohol-related involuntary manslaughter or second-degree assault, or any factors that might disqualify them from the regular Drug Court program. If a participant is kicked out of the program, a maximum sentence in prison awaits. "They can change their lifestyle and mindset," Warren County Prosecutor Mike Wright said. The incentive of staying out of a prison is reason enough to shy away from the constant alcohol use that got a participant in trouble in the first place. Despite its numerous requirements and minimum length of 18 months to graduate, it's hopeful a long-term recovery can be reached. "We hold them accountable," Becker-Markovich said. "We tell them, 'People, places and things, that is your responsibility.' " Becker-Markovich noted the two counties under her watch will be implementing programs in January. Audrain County will begin its DWI tract, while Montgomery County will be unveiling both Drug and DWI courts around the same time. "They are not getting off," Becker-Markovich said. "When I was looking at our program requirements, this is where people look at themselves and believe in themselves enough to take the chance to fail."