|
|
| Swift and certain’ program prepared for Peninsula felons |
| By peninsuladailynews.com - Paul Gottlieb |
| Published: 04/02/2012 |
|
Olympic Peninsula, WA -- Clallam and Jefferson counties have been selected for a program dubbed “swift and certain” that’s intended to dispense justice to former felons by giving them less jail time when they falter, the state Department of Corrections announced last week. The program will go into effect if a bill sponsored by Sen. Jim Hargrove, a Democrat from Hoquiam who represents the 24th District, passes the state Legislature and is signed into law — something that Hargrove is confident will occur. The new program is based on the premise that shorter sentences imposed immediately on former felons who violate conditions of their release are more effective in combating recidivism than longer but delayed sentences — and will save taxpayers’ money. An estimated 150 former felons are under community supervision in Clallam and Jefferson counties, Jeri Boe, the state Department of Corrections’ community corrections supervisor for the North Olympic Peninsula, said last week. The two counties, along with Pasco and Vancouver, were selected in part because of available jail space, Karen Adams, the agency’s northwest region field administrator, said last week. “This is a cultural shift for many community corrections officers in the field,” she said last week. Research from the Department of Corrections and the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, a nonpartisan legislative research group, supports the notion that shorter sentences imposed immediately on community supervision scofflaws are more effective than longer sentences, Corrections spokesman Chad Lewis said last week. “This is the most fundamental change in community corrections we’ve had in many years,” Lewis said. The program is part of pending Senate Bill 6204, sponsored by Hargrove, who represents Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County. Under the plan,ex-felons on community supervision who violate the conditions of their release would immediately serve up to three days for violating those conditions, such as failing to have a urinalysis or to meet with a community supervision officer. Hargrove said Friday the bill, which has passed the Senate with support from Republicans, is virtually assured of passage in the House this week. “The Department of Justice is trying to replicate this in other states,” Hargrove said. Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said last week he “thoroughly” supports the program. “The empirical data on it supports the outcome,” Benedict said, adding he expects a spike in arrests after the program starts that the county jail can handle. Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think