North Dakota
North Dakota’s 24/7 Program Relies on Continuous Alcohol Monitoring for Convenience and Cost Control
98%
Compliance Rate
4,400+
Clients Monitored
70%
On CAM
North Dakota
Compliance Rate
Clients Monitored
On CAM
North Dakota faces unique challenges with alcohol misuse. The state has one of the highest rates of alcohol use and binge drinking in the U.S., with 10% of North Dakotans aged 12 and older either dependent on or having abused alcohol in the past year. DUIs make up nearly a quarter of all adult arrests, and 41% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involve a driver with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. Driving fatalities cost North Dakota taxpayers $303 million annually.
To address the link between alcohol and crime, the North Dakota Attorney General's Office launched a statewide 24/7 Sobriety Program that relies heavily on SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM CAM). The program provides an alternative to incarceration while holding participants accountable for their sobriety through around-the-clock monitoring.
Through interdepartmental cooperation led by the Attorney General's Office, the program has grown from a 12-county pilot to a statewide initiative serving more than 2,100 average daily participants. SCRAM CAM has proven especially valuable for smaller counties that lack staffing resources to run twice-daily breath testing programs.
North Dakota has one of the highest rates of alcohol use and binge drinking in the nation. DUIs account for nearly a quarter of all adult arrests, creating significant strain on the criminal justice system and threatening public safety on the state's roadways.
Smaller counties and sheriff's departments cannot afford the costs of assigning staff members to run breath testing twice daily. These departments need a more efficient and cost-effective approach to alcohol monitoring that does not require dedicated personnel for each testing session.
Ensuring uniform program utilization from county to county presents an ongoing challenge. The state requires consistent administration while still allowing counties flexibility in selecting technology and managing payment collection.
Fatal motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol cost North Dakota taxpayers $303 million annually. The state needs an effective intervention to reduce recidivism among alcohol-involved offenders and protect community safety.
Offer individuals charged with or convicted of alcohol-involved offenses a community-based supervision option that holds them accountable while allowing them to remain active in their communities.
Monitor participants around the clock to verify compliance with sobriety requirements and enable immediate sanctions for any violations, including the possibility of a short jail stay.
Implement a monitoring solution that works efficiently for both large and small counties, regardless of available staffing resources or testing center infrastructure.
North Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Program relies on SCRAM CAM to monitor 70% of alcohol-involved participants. The technology provides continuous, 24/7 alcohol monitoring through a bracelet worn on the ankle, eliminating the need for participants to travel to testing centers twice daily.
SCRAM CAM bracelets test for alcohol consumption around the clock, providing comprehensive monitoring without gaps in coverage. Participants are held accountable for their sobriety every hour of every day, and any drinking event triggers immediate notification to supervising authorities.
The North Dakota legislature appropriated $1.2 million to the Attorney General's Office for program rollout and hardware purchases. Because the state owns nearly 2,000 SCRAM CAM units, it keeps costs to participants low while maintaining full control over equipment inventory and deployment.
Larger counties with staffing resources often start participants on twice-daily breath testing and offer SCRAM CAM as a reward for compliance. Smaller counties and sheriff's departments use SCRAM CAM exclusively, as it proves more efficient and cost effective than dedicating staff to run breath testing programs.
North Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Program delivers measurable outcomes that enhance public safety and demonstrate program effectiveness:
Research from the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute confirms the program's success in reducing recidivism and improving traffic safety outcomes. A 2015 study by the Preusser Research Group, sponsored by NHTSA, demonstrates that SCRAM CAM worn for at least 90 days can significantly lower the risk of reoffending.
North Dakota's experience demonstrates how continuous alcohol monitoring can help states and counties efficiently manage alcohol-involved offenders while reducing operational burdens and enhancing public safety. We help courts and agencies implement customized monitoring solutions that fit their unique needs and resources.