Inland Valley's 
Volunteer Resource Center

Hospital and Morgue (HAM) Program

 

What is the HAM Program?

• The HAM Program is an alternative sentence or condition of probation for use in the sentencing of DUI, reckless driving and related offenses. The HAM Program was created through the collaboration of participating Hospitals, the Department of Coroners, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Los Angeles Superior Courts.

 

How Do I Register?

• To register for the HAM program you must come to our offices with your court referral paperwork, your photo ID, and $100 (Cash, Visa/Mastercard or Money Order). Any questions, please call our office or email us at ivvrcoffice@gmail.com

 

How Does the HAM Program Work?

• The HAM Program consists of four components:

1. Alcohol Awareness Class – Addresses alcohol use. Participants are guided through an examination of drinking behavior, with a focus on traffic safety.

2. Hospital Visit – Addresses risky and healthy choices. Participants are guided through a realistic examination of traffic-related trauma and life-saving interventions.

3. The Morgue/Coroners Visit – Participants have presented cases of risky behavior that resulted in deaths; take a tour of the area where bodies are stored, examined and processed. The result is that participants are confronted with the fatal consequences of risky choices and a visceral encounter that serves as a reality check.

4. Reflective Component – Allows the participants to evaluate their program experience, clarify lessons learned, and identify the healthier behaviors. This is accomplished by a written essay done individually.

 

What are the Benefits of the HAM Program?

 

• The HAM program promotes healthy choices. Furthermore, the strength of the program is that it relies on evidence-based methods that guide participants through a process of behavior change, rather than relying on the dissemination of information, so it reduces recidivism for DUI and related offenses.