DUI Victim Impact Panel in Tampa

This article was last updated on Friday, February 15, 2019.

Once each month on a Monday night, nearly 200 people attend a Victim Impact Panel held at the Jail Assembly Room which is the building at the north end of the Falkenburg Road Jail. The panel is hosted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

The victim impact panel can be required as a condition of DUI probation. In fact, many of the judges in Hillsborough County will require attendance at the Victim Impact Panel as a condition of probation, especially if the DUI conviction involves injury or property damage. In some cases, the judge might even require the DUI VIP if the case is reduced to reckless driving.

Additionally, the Victim Impact Panel is now required as a condition of entering the RIDR Program. RIDR is the new DUI diversion program in Hillsborough County available for a first DUI. To enter RIDR, you must provide proof to the SAO that you have attended one session of the Victim Impact Panel.

You can register for a Victim Impact Panel at www.maddvip.org or contact MADD at 813-273-6233 ext. 7296. The Victim Impact Panel is held once a month and begins at 6 .m. and is located at the Jail Assembly Room on the north end of the building at 520 N. Franklin Rd., Tampa, FL 33619.

The following dates have been scheduled for upcoming Victim Impact Panels in Tampa, FL:

  • 02-18-2019
  • 03-18-2019
  • 04-15-2019
  • 05-20-2019
  • 06-17-2019
  • 07-15-2019

For each of these dates, the times for the VIP program are as follows:

  • Registration Time: 6:00 pm
  • Panel Start Time: 6:30 pm
  • Panel End Time: 8:30 pm

What is the Victim Impact Panel (VIP)?

The Victim Impact Panel in Tampa is hosted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The purpose of the panel is to educate those recently arrested for DUI about how the offense impacts others. At the panel, the victims of DUI tell their gut-wrenching stories of loss and tragedy.

The Victim Impact Panel is a court-ordered program.  If you are interested in attending a Victim Impact Panel and have not been court ordered you may be admitted, space permitting, but you will not receive proof of attendance.

The MADD DUI Victim Impact Panel prohibits drinking or drug use prior to attending. All attendees may be subject to alcohol testing. A positive alcohol test may cause a violation of probation. Anyone suspected of being under the influence will be denied admission to the program.  Law enforcement will be present.

Victim Impact Panel for Hillsborough County – Visit the Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) website to learn more about the DUI Victim Impact panels conducted at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office – Falkenburg Road Jail Assembly Room. The panel is held in the building at the north end of the jail.

MADD’s DUI VIP
520 North Falkenburg Road (Jail Assembly Room)
Tampa, FL 33619

To participate in the panel and receive credit for attending you must bring:

  1. photo identification;
  2. a court order or paperwork for probation MUST be presented;
  3. A registration fee of $40.00 paid via a Money Order or Bank Cashier’s Check ONLY Payable to MADD ( no cash is accepted).

Individuals on probation for DUI in Hillsborough County must register with your probation officer. For individuals on probation for DUI outside of Hillsborough County or with the DOC please call MADD office to register (813.273.6233 ext. 7296).

No children are allowed.  No food, beverages, cell phones, or other electronic devices permitted. Cell phone use or texting will be cause for dismissal from this program.


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