The Michigan Supreme Court is giving more than 3 million dollars to circuit courts across the state.
Twenty-Four courts in Michigan have a so-called Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program. It’s a type of intense probation meant for people who have a history of failing regular probation.
People in the program get specialized and structured help so they have a better chance of succeeding.
Republican Senator John Proos sponsored the legislation that governs the Swift and Sure program.
“It’s the right thing to do. It’s the right thing to do to try and solve the underlying problems that these individuals have.”
He says goal of the program is to prevent people from re-offending after probation. Proos says the program does this by helping offenders with underlying problems like joblessness and drug addiction.
Not everybody can be saved. Believe me that’s a recognition amongst everybody in the criminal justice system and us as legislators. But we also recognize that we can do better through evidence based programing and that’s what this intent is.”
He says one measure of success of the program is the number of people who leave the program with jobs.
Seventy-six percent have a stable job when they leave the program and graduate from the Swift and Sure Sanction Program. That is the best indicator of success in the future.”
Twenty-Four courts in Michigan with the Swift and Sure program will share more than 3-million dollars.