Kentucky Passes Bill to End Shock Probation in Fatal DUI Crashes

A bill aimed at eliminating the option of shock probation for people convicted in fatal drunken driving crashes has cleared the Kentucky General Assembly.

The Senate voted 33-4 March 8 for final passage of the bill, House Bill 222, sending it to Gov. Matt Bevin.

The legislation would prohibit shock probation, when someone is ordered to jail for a short period of time and then released by a judge in favor of probation, if a defendant is convicted of drunken driving as well as second-degree manslaughter or reckless homicide stemming from a fatal crash.

The bill passed the House last month. Its lead sponsor is Republican state Rep. Robert Benvenuti III of Lexington.