Government

Native American tribe installs alcohol detection kiosk

Photo courtesy of AB Kiosk.

September 25, 2020

Acoma Pueblo in central New Mexico has become the first Native American tribe in the U.S. to coordinate and conduct court-mandated alcohol monitoring using the alcohol detection kiosk from AB Kiosk, according to a press release.

The Acoma Tribal Court has installed the kiosk in the Pueblo of Acoma Law Enforcement Center where it screens up to 25 clients each day for the use of alcohol.

The kiosk autonomously coordinates and conducts court-mandated alcohol monitoring, reducing administrative costs and the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Tribal judges often require clients of the court to refrain from using alcohol as a condition of their pre-trial release, probation, extended supervision or diversion program. To carry out this directive, clients are required to submit to random alcohol screening, a process that is both costly and time consuming for law enforcement staff to administer using handheld breathalyzers.

"The accessibility of the system also makes it easier for clients to meet the conditions of their release or sentencing with less disruption to their education, work, and family life," Gwen Aragon, probation officer for the Acoma Tribal Court, said in the press release.