Improving Community Corrections
In January 2015, Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan signed two bills into law creating a special commission that would be responsible for "exploring alternatives to incarceration, promoting rehabilitation programs, and making recommendations to the Legislature. The bills aim to improve local alternatives to prison for eligible non-violent offenders and create court consistency across the state" (Michigan House Bills 5828 and 5829, 2015).
You have been appointed to a similar commission in your state. Prepare a report in Microsoft Word that addresses the tasks given below. As you can see from the governor?s press release, tasks such as the following are actual real-world tasks that criminal justice professionals may encounter:
Briefly describe the alternatives to incarceration available in your state. Identify the goal that each program seeks to accomplish (e.g., rehabilitation, deterrence, restoration, etc.).
Evaluate the effectiveness of pretrial diversion in preventing recidivism. Should pretrial diversion be expanded? What are the benefits to the offender and the state? Are there any drawbacks?
Evaluate the use of probation in your state. Describe how probation officers may utilize community-based resources for the purpose of rehabilitating probationers.
Conclude by offering at least three well-reasoned recommendations for promoting rehabilitation programs and providing viable alternatives to incarceration for your state.
In a report of this type, data should accompany any recommendations to support the points being made. For this assignment, you might find the following resource helpful, along with your textbook, classroom material, and other appropriate outside sources:
A National Survey of Criminal Justice Diversion Programs and Initiatives
Source:
Michigan Office of the Governor. (2015, January 12). Gov. Rick Snyder signs bills to boost public safety through DNA collection at time of arrest.
Retrieved from
http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57577_57657-345100--,00.html
Cite your sources using APA guidelines.
5 pages