WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
A state grant awarded last year to St. Joseph County is reducing recidivism rates and cutting time behind bars for qualified candidates.
Judge Paul Stutesman provided details about the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program last week, when he presented circuit court’s annual report to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners.
Stutesman said the State Court Administrative Office provided funding late last year to administer the SSSPP program. He explained that it involves closely monitoring participants, who are sporadically checked for drug and alcohol use. They also must attend frequent meetings with probation or case-management staff.
In short, Stutesman said SSSPP aims to improve probationer success by promptly imposing graduated sanctions, including small amounts of jail time, for probation violations.
The program targets high-risk felony offenders with a history of probation violations or failures.
In presenting his ninth annual report, Stutesman said there were a total of 631 new filings in criminal and civil cases in 2013. There were 505 felony cases filed last year and 62 reopened for a total of 567 cases.
