217.777. Community corrections program alternative for eligible offenders, purpose--operation--rules. - Missouri Statutes

Community corrections program alternative for eligible offenders,purpose--operation--rules.

217.777. 1. The department shall administer a community correctionsprogram to encourage the establishment of local sentencing alternativesfor offenders to:

(1) Promote accountability of offenders to crime victims, localcommunities and the state by providing increased opportunities foroffenders to make restitution to victims of crime through financialreimbursement or community service;

(2) Ensure that victims of crime are included in meaningful ways inMissouri's response to crime;

(3) Provide structured opportunities for local communities todetermine effective local sentencing options to assure that individualcommunity programs are specifically designed to meet local needs;

(4) Reduce the cost of punishment, supervision and treatmentsignificantly below the annual per-offender cost of confinement within thetraditional prison system; and

(5) Improve public confidence in the criminal justice system byinvolving the public in the development of community-based sentencingoptions for eligible offenders.

2. The program shall be designed to implement and operatecommunity-based restorative justice projects including, but not limited to:preventive or diversionary programs, community-based intensive probationand parole services, community-based treatment centers, day reportingcenters, and the operation of facilities for the detention, confinement,care and treatment of adults under the purview of this chapter.

3. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations foroperation of the program established pursuant to this section as providedfor in section 217.040 and chapter 536, RSMo.

4. Any proposed program or strategy created pursuant to this sectionshall be developed after identification of a need in the community for suchprograms, through consultation with representatives of the general public,judiciary, law enforcement and defense and prosecution bar.

5. Until December 31, 2000, in communities where local volunteercommunity boards are established at the request of the court, the followingguidelines apply:

(1) The department shall provide a program of training to eligiblevolunteers and develop specific conditions of a probation program andconditions of probation for offenders referred to it by the court. Suchconditions, as established by the community boards and the department, mayinclude compensation and restitution to the community and the victim byfines, fees, day fines, victim-offender mediation, participation in victimimpact panels, community service, or a combination of the aforementionedconditions;

(2) In referring offenders to local volunteer community boards forprobation supervision pursuant to this section, the court is encouraged toselect those volunteers who live in close geographical proximity to thecommunity in which the crime is alleged to have occurred for supervisionpurposes;

(3) The term of probation shall not exceed five years and may beconcluded by the court when conditions imposed are met to the satisfactionof the local volunteer community board.

6. The department may staff programs created pursuant to this sectionwith employees of the department or may contract with other public orprivate agencies for delivery of services as otherwise provided by law.

(L. 1983 S.B. 122 § 1, A.L. 1989 H.B. 408, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 1995 H.B. 424, A.L. 1997 S.B. 430)

*This section was amended by both H.B. 823 and S.B. 430 during the 1st Regular Session of the 89th General Assembly, 1997. Due to possible conflict, both versions are printed here.

Community corrections program alternative for eligible offenders,purpose--operation--rules.

217.777. 1. The department shall administer a community correctionsprogram to encourage the establishment of local sentencing alternatives foroffenders to:

(1) Promote accountability of offenders to crime victims, localcommunities and the state by providing increased opportunities foroffenders to make restitution to victims of crime through financialreimbursement or community service;

(2) Ensure that victims of crime are included in meaningful ways inMissouri's response to crime;

(3) Provide structured opportunities for local communities todetermine effective local sentencing options to assure that individualcommunity programs are specifically designed to meet local needs;

(4) Reduce the cost of punishment, supervision and treatmentsignificantly below the annual per-offender cost of confinement within thetraditional prison system; and

(5) Improve public confidence in the criminal justice system byinvolving the public in the development of community-based sentencingoptions for eligible offenders.

2. The program shall be designed to implement and operatecommunity-based restorative justice projects including, but not limited to:preventive or diversionary programs, community-based intensive probationand parole services, community-based treatment centers, day reportingcenters, and the operation of facilities for the detention, confinement,care and treatment of adults under the purview of this chapter.

3. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations foroperation of the program established pursuant to this section as providedfor in section 217.040 and chapter 536, RSMo.

4. Any proposed program or strategy created pursuant to this sectionshall be developed after identification of a need in the community for suchprograms, through consultation with representatives of the general public,judiciary, law enforcement and defense and prosecution bar.

5. In communities where local volunteer community boards areestablished at the request of the court, the following guidelines apply:

(1) The department shall provide a program of training to eligiblevolunteers and develop specific conditions of a probation program andconditions of probation for offenders referred to it by the court. Suchconditions, as established by the community boards and the department, mayinclude compensation and restitution to the community and the victim byfines, fees, day fines, victim-offender mediation, participation in victimimpact panels, community service, or a combination of the aforementionedconditions;

(2) The term of probation shall not exceed five years and may beconcluded by the court when conditions imposed are met to the satisfactionof the local volunteer community board.

6. The department may staff programs created pursuant to this sectionwith employees of the department or may contract with other public orprivate agencies for delivery of services as otherwise provided by law.

(L. 1983 S.B. 122 § 1, A.L. 1989 H.B. 408, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 1995 H.B. 424, A.L. 1997 H.B. 823)

Effective 7-14-97

*Revisor's note: This section was amended by both H.B. 823 and S.B. 430 during the 1st Regular Session of the 89th General Assembly, 1997. Due to possible conflict, both versions are printed here.