DUI/DWI offenders in East St. Louis are occasionally given the option to take advantage of a drug rehab facility as opposed to receiving other punishment for their alcohol or drug related offenses. The punishment for these types of offenses can ordinarily be rather extreme, including jail time and substantial fines and other significant costs associated with being prosecuted and/or found guilty of DUI/DWI. More often than not, specifically for first time offenders, the judge will decide that addressing the issues of drug or alcohol abuse in treatment is will prove more effective in the long term for curbing the problem. For DUI/DWI offenders in East St. Louis that are lucky enough to be able to take part in such treatment instead of other far more extreme consequences, a great number will remain out of the criminal justice system permanently.