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Berks County Probation & Parole

Berks County Probation & Parole

Driving Under Suspension/Driving Under the Influence Intermediate Punishment (DUS/DUI IP)

The Berks County Probation and Parole department offers specialized supervision when an offenders case is found to be eligible for Driving Under Suspension/Driving Under the Influence Intermediate Punishment Program (DUS/DUI IP). The District Attorney’s office in conjunction with Adult Probation and Parole Office will make a recommendation to the court for entry and supervision into the IP program. 

*Effective 2/1/04 the mandatory sentence for DUS/DUI-related (1543b,1) is 60-90 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Requirements

How it works...

All participants who opt for Intermediate Punishment IP will plead guilty at the Magisterial District Judge MDJ. They will then be scheduled for sentencing at the Court of Common Pleas and will need to submit an application for the program. Participants who are accepted into the program will be placed on Intermediate Punishment for 60 - 90 days. The IP sentence will include house arrest with Electronic Monitoring (EM) (defendant to pay up to $8 per day) and if recommended may include drug/alcohol treatment in the form of either in-patient treatment, a halfway house program, intensive out-patient treatment, and or out-patient treatment. If the defendant participates in either in-patient treatment or a halfway house program, the period of time that is served in either one of these programs will be deducted from the 85 days of EM (with a minimum period of 30 days of house arrest/electronic monitoring). The defendant will also be sentenced to pay the mandatory $500 fine.

What you'll need...

The following conditions must be fulfilled in order to be accepted into the DUS/DUI IP Program:

  1. You must remit a MONEY ORDER made payable to Berks County Adult Probation in the amount of $750 for the fee associated with the EM equipment.
  2. You must have an approved residence.

Who to contact...

Once you have filed the application and following a plea of guilty before the Magisterial District Judge, you will be contacted by the Adult Probation Office and scheduled for an initial consultation to determine your eligibility for the program.