Alcohol Liaison Office (ALO)
The Court orders approximately 12,000 defendants to an alcohol program each year. The Orange County Health Care Agency provides referral services through the Alcohol Liaison Office for alcohol programs and provides the Court with notices of enrollment, progress and completion. The ALO also provides referrals for victim impact panels, if ordered by the court, and monitors attendance. ALOs can provide authorized drug diversion program information to defendants if requested.
ALO staff are not Court staff. While they are able to answer questions about a defendant’s referral or program status, they are not able to alter court orders, provide extensions or authorize referrals to programs other than what is ordered by the Court.
The ALO staff may be able to answer general questions over the phone; however, please note that no transactions can be processed over the telephone. If you need a referral, reinstatement, transfer, help with questions about out of county/out of state orders or have to provide a status report, please proceed to your nearest ALO location. Confidential information will not be discussed over the phone.
Partners4Wellness staff work closely with the ALOs to ensure your enrollment and program are managed professionally and effeciently.
(COVID-19 policies may interupt some of the following procedures)
ALO Frequently Asked Questions
How soon do I need to go see the ALO after I get out of court?
The Court will generally give you a deadline to enroll, and your court order will likely state to report to the ALO “forthwith.” This means “right away.” It is in your best interest to go see the ALO immediately after court sentencing. This will give you the longest time possible between your referral and your enrollment. However, if you are unable to go to the ALO on the same day, you can return to any of the 4 ALO locations for a referral at a later time. If you wait, keep in mind that the court may find you to be out of compliance with the court order and impose consequences. Additionally, your enrollment deadline will still be running.
How soon do I need to enroll into a program?
Unless clearly specified differently by the court, you will have 28 days to enroll into your program. Keep in mind that there will probably be a wait time between your first contact with the provider and their first available appointment. Schedule early to make sure you don’t miss your enrollment deadline.
Can the ALO give me an extension to enroll?
No. Only the Court can grant you an extension.
Can the ALO give me credit for completing my program if I call?
Calling is not enough. The ALO will need to receive proof of completion from the program provider. While you can go to the ALO to turn in your proof of completion, the staff will still confirm your completion with the provider prior to reporting it to the court.
Can the ALO monitor my enrollment and completions if I go into a DUI program outside of Orange County?
No. The ALO can help you find an out of County DUI program and will issue and submit the referral for you. However, it is up to you to ensure that the out of County provider confirms your program enrollment AND completion with the Court and/or with the ALO.
Can the ALO tell me if an out of state DUI program is “equivalent” to a California program?
No. Only the Court can confirm with you if they will accept an out of State program as equivalent. The ALO can help you find a DUI program provider in any State, and they will issue you a referral. However, the ALO cannot determine if this program will be accepted by the Court. Keep in mind that most States have milder penalties for DUI than California does. It is in your best interest to confirm with the Court and with the provider if the out of State program will be accepted in your case.
Can the ALO call the DMV for me?
No. The ALO cannot provide you with any advice regarding the DMV. If you have questions about your license, it is in your best interest to contact the DMV directly.
Can the ALO help me get my driver’s license back?
No. The ALO can help you find a DUI program and will report your completion to the Court. This is usually one of the requirements to reinstate your driving privilege; however, the ALO do not have any involvement with your driver’s license status.
Can the ALO help me with a complaint about a provider?
The ALO can provide you the phone number for the Authority and Quality Improvement Services complaint line, but they will not resolve the complaint for you. The phone number to file a complaint about an Orange County DUI program is (714) 834-5601. Please note that this line does not provide access to the Court and cannot be used for Court matters.
What languages are spoken at the ALO?
All languages are spoken at the ALO. Staff are bilingual in many of the County’s more common languages. However, if a customer who speaks another language is in need of service, the ALO can assist him or her through a multi-lingual language line available at the ALO.
Do I have to go the ALO in person to conduct my business?
Only you or your legal counsel on record can conduct business related to your case at the ALO. You or your counsel must appear at the ALO in person to obtain your program referral because your signature is required on the referral. Your identity will also be verified during your visit to ensure you are being referred to the correct program. Family members or friends cannot handle this process for you.
Do I need to return to submit proof of enrollment?
The Court will sometimes order a defendant to return to show proof of completion. If this is the case, it is in your best interest to follow the Court’s order. If you are attending an Orange County DUI program, the ALO will also obtain proof of enrollment directly from the provider and will follow up with your referred provider to ensure proper reporting. If you are attending an out of County or out of State provider, then you are strongly encouraged to follow up with the provider directly to ensure proof is submitted. While the ALO always attempts to obtain proof for out of County and out of State providers, this is not always received.
Am I able to sign up at 2 locations due to traveling for my job?
No. You can only enroll into 1 DUI provider at a time. Each provider has slightly different curricula and licenses, and it would be impossible to match your credit from two simultaneous programs and merge them into credit for 1 program.
If I’m going to jail on a future date (1 month or 2 months from sentence) why do I have to enroll now?
If you are given the usual 28 days to enroll into a program but will be going to jail after that, you still need to enroll into the program before you go to jail in order to comply with the Court’s order. In this situation, DUI programs will place you on an approved “Leave of Absence” once you report to jail, and your program time will be suspended until you return. There is no penalty to you for this. If you are sentenced to jail time before the 28 days enrollment deadline, then your deadline to enroll will typically be extended to account for the time you will be incarcerated. The ALO staff can help you calculate your exact dates.