There are a number of different penalties that can be imposed on defendants besides incarceration. Some defendants are sentenced to participate in a community corrections program instead of being sent to jail or prison. But unfortunately, many defendants will not be eligible for this program. Who qualifies for community corrections programs? What do these programs entail? Here’s what you should know:
What Are Community Corrections Programs?
Defendants who are sentenced to participate in a community corrections program will live in a supervised facility. During the program, participants are expected to attend counseling or treatment for alcohol or drug abuse. Participants will also be expected to find and maintain employment throughout the duration of the program. There are other terms that participants must comply with, including mandatory curfews and random drug and alcohol testing.
The goal of these programs is to slowly reintegrate defendants into society so they are more prepared to support themselves and live a crime-free life after their sentence is over.
Who Qualifies for Community Corrections Programs?
The judge sentence most defendants who are convicted of felonies to a community corrections program. However, this is not an option for defendants who have committed a crime that carries mandatory prison time. For example, the law states that defendants who have committed violent crimes must be incarcerated. Therefore, these defendants will not be eligible for the community corrections program.
Even if a defendant is not initially eligible, he may be referred to this program upon the discovery of unusual and extenuating circumstances. For example, let’s say a defendant is sentenced to prison for committing a violent crime. But, the court discovers that someone else was involved and the defendant actually played a very minor role in the crime. Since this reduces the seriousness of the defendant’s actions, this is an unusual and extenuating circumstance. In this case, the defendant could now be eligible for a community corrections program even though he has been convicted of a violent crime.
It’s important to note that all offenders who are sentenced to community corrections must be accepted into the program by a local facility. If a defendant is rejected, the court will need to resentence him since community corrections is no longer an option.
If you have been charged with a felony, contact Reisch Law Firm at once. Our criminal defense attorneys will always fight for your freedom. If you are convicted, we will continue to work tirelessly to secure the most lenient sentence possible. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
