New Jersey's Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC)
If you are convicted of a drunk driving offense in New Jersey, you will be sentenced to the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (known as "IDRC"). If you are a first time offender, you will be sentenced to a minimum of twelve (12) hours in the IDRC. If you are a second time offender, you will be sentenced to a minimum of fourty-eight (48) hours in the IDRC. If you are a third time offender, you will be sentenced to 180 days in jail (half of which can be served at an inpatient rehabilitation facility). When you are released from jail or rehab, you must submit to a twelve (12) hour IDRC evaluation.
The authority for IDRC comes from section (f) of the DWI statute in New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 39:4-50. The IDRC program is designed to evaluate and provide alcohol and driver education classes to those convicted of drunk driving in New Jersey. In the program, participants attend mandatory alcohol and highway safety education courses. The program also evaluates participants for potential drug and alcohol problems and determines any necessary treatment. If treatment is necessary, the IDRC refers the participant to a provider for a minimum 16-week treatment program. The participant may also supplement any treatment with their own self-help meetings (such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)). Finally, the IDRC monitors compliance and reports any issues to the Municipal Court and the Motor Vehicle Commission. The failure to attend IDRC as required by a DWI sentence typically results in jail time.
