Pubdate: Fri, 28 Dec 2001
Source: Hendersonville Times-News (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Hendersonville Newspaper Corporation
Contact:  http://www.hendersonvillenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/793
Author: Claudia Edwards

CORRECTION PROGRAM ALLOWS CRIMINALS TO STAY AT HOME

A person who pleads or is found guilty and sentenced for a felony offense 
in Sumner County does not always end up serving that sentence in jail, and 
that can be a big break to the taxpayers. Many times, a defendant in a 
non-violent crime will be sentenced to a certain amount of time to be 
served on community corrections. It means the person is not incarcerated, 
but can remain in the community, hopefully gainfully employed, while being 
monitored closely for compliance with the orders of the court.

Stacy Weaks, director of the Gallatin Community Corrections office, a 
function of Mid Cumberland Human Resource Agency, says the program is a 
rigorous one with both incentives for good behavior, and timely punishment 
for violating the terms of their agreement with the court and the agency.

"We have three officers in this office each with an active caseload of 
25-30 people," Weaks said. "We may easily have that many more inactive 
cases - those who are in jail or on warrant status."

The good news for the taxpayers, who ultimately foot the bill, is that the 
average cost to keep someone in the penitentiary for a year is $20,075. 
That same person monitored on community corrections will cost just $1,642.

Weaks, who has a degree in criminal justice, has been in the Gallatin 
office for about five years. She says working with those convicted of a 
crime can be frustrating, but also rewarding.

"The best thing about the work is when I can actually help people." Weaks 
said. "Our success rate is not high - it's a difficult program - but we can 
often get help for people with alcohol and/or drug problems. We can help 
them find jobs, obtain food stamps or get a GED. For those who are really 
motivated to turn their lives around, we can be a valuable resource."

The program is structured in three levels, each designed to last one year. 
On level one, house arrest, the person is expected to be at home unless 
they are in church, in school or working. And even those activities have to 
be approved and monitored by the case worker. If a person is not involved 
in one of their approved activities, they are expected to be at home. 
Running out to a store or to buy groceries without notifying their case 
worker could result in a probation violation warrant being issued, and 
possible reincarceration. Reporting regularly to the community corrections 
office is an important part of the requirements. Level one participants are 
expected to report twice a week, and they have to be able to show proof of 
employment, show they are doing their community service work of 16 hours a 
month, and critically important, must be able to pass random drug screens.

Although the guidelines are strict, the successful person is receiving 
day-for-day jail credit while on community corrections. Every day they are 
able to stay on the program without violating probation, is one day off 
their jail sentence.

The taxpayers are not footing the entire bill for this program. Although 
most of the funding comes from the Department of Corrections and from 
grants through MACHRA, participants must contribute a $45 monthly 
supervision fee. Failure to do so can be another ticket back to jail.

After three successful months on Level One, participants are graduated to 
Level Two which is the same as Level One except that they have to report to 
the office just once a week and are given a three-hour pass each week. But 
even the pass comes with conditions - 9 p.m. in the cutoff curfew time.

Level Three means a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, and it's valid seven days a week.

Level Four is the final step in community corrections. Curfew is extended 
to 9 p.m., but payment of fees and clean drug screens are still mandatory.

Weaks said that a person who is able to complete Level One successfully has 
a greater chance of completing the entire year than someone who violates 
relatively soon.

Weaks, just as most of the corrections officers, is quick to answer when 
asked what the worst part of the job is - "Doing the drug screens. "This 
program is as hard as a person chooses to make it," Weaks said. "If they 
can stick to the regulations they can do really well. It's discouraging 
sometimes to see people who are not able to advance and complete the 
program, but then, it can be really rewarding. It would be nice if we had 
more resources to make available to people, especially for drug and alcohol 
treatment, but if we have a person who is committed to making a change, we 
will help them in every way we can."
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MAP posted-by: Beth