After a DUI or OWI arrest, many courts require a substance abuse evaluation as part of sentencing or probation. It helps the court decide what, if anything, you need next: an education class, counseling or treatment. Knowing what happens makes it much less stressful.
What the evaluation is, and isn’t
It is a professional assessment of your relationship with alcohol and drugs, done by a qualified evaluator. It is not a test you pass or fail, and the evaluator’s job is to give an honest, accurate picture, not to judge you.
What the evaluator asks
- How often and how much you drink or use drugs, and for how long
- The circumstances of your arrest, and any past DUI or OWI offenses
- Consequences your use has had on work, family or health
- Family history of substance use
- Your life now, and any changes you have already made
Screening questionnaires
Evaluations usually include standardized screening questionnaires. Widely used examples include the AUDIT and the MAST for alcohol and the DAST for drugs. They turn your answers into scores the evaluator weighs alongside the interview.
What the report recommends
The written report covers your substance use history, your screening results and the evaluator’s recommendations. Recommendations usually fall into a few levels: no further action or an education class, outpatient counseling, an intensive outpatient program, or residential treatment. The court uses the report to set the conditions of your sentence or probation.
State rules differ
Some states take DUI evaluations only from providers licensed in that state, and licensing agencies can have their own forms. Check with your court, attorney or licensing agency before you book. In Michigan, a license restoration hearing after an alcohol- or drug-related revocation calls for a Substance Use Evaluation on Form SOS-258; see the Michigan license restoration evaluation page.
Doing it online with Schroeder Counseling
Jennifer Schroeder, M.S., CADC conducts DUI evaluations one-on-one over secure Zoom. A standard evaluation is $200. If your court date is close, Fast Track is $250; the evaluation page lists report timing for both. On request, we send the report directly to your court, attorney or probation officer.
Confirm with your court or attorney that an online evaluation meets your requirements before you book. A completed evaluation is not refundable, and you can cancel or reschedule with at least 24 hours’ notice. For the general process, see how a court-ordered alcohol or drug assessment works.