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Sanctions & Services

Case Management Program

Case managers screen and assess offenders, determine eligibility, and refer offenders to client specific services such as Thinking Matters, Seeking Safety, outpatient counseling, adult education programs, residential substance abuse treatment, employment assistance, and various other need-based services. This service provides a wrap around approach for a specific population to address barriers to successful completion of probation characterized by advocacy, communication, and resource navigation.

Through use of individualized service planning and interactive journaling the Case Management program assists individuals from the jail and the community to create an action plan with their own goals in mind. With this intervention at the start of their probation term or a violation, participants are more likely to be successful throughout the entirety/remainder of their probation term.

Offenders may be referred to Community Corrections through their Attorneys, Judges, Probation Officers, and the Prosecuting Attorney. Once ordered to an alternative sanction, the Case Manager coordinates the referral, monitors offender participation/compliance, and makes reports to the probation officer and/or court as needed. Case management services are available for individuals enrolled on probation or court ordered to complete.

Thinking Matters

Thinking Matters is one of two groups offered by Community Corrections. It is available for offenders housed in Cheboygan County Jail (Harbor Hall), Alpena County (Sunrise Centre), and Crawford County (GRACE Center). This group focuses on addressing thinking patterns and how those thought processes impact the way we feel and act in daily life. This is especially important for individuals with thinking patterns that contribute to situations that later lead to criminal activity. The goal of this program is to learn about thinking in a way that helps to break dysfunctional behavior patterns.

Seeking Safety

Seeking Safety is a group offered by Community Corrections. It is available for offenders housed in Cheboygan County Jail (Harbor Hall), Alpena County (Sunrise Centre), and Crawford County (GRACE Center). This curriculum is developed to reduce the impact of trauma and substance abuse in daily life by increasing safe coping methods and positive interpersonal relationships, while also addressing thinking/behavioral problems created by emotional dysregulation. This program is designed to address the underlying trauma that contributes to various social and environmental problems that create opportunities for new criminal activity. By intervening and addressing the underlying trauma participants can start moving forward in a healthier and more productive direction.

5-Day Housing Drunk Driving Jail Reimbursement (DDJR)

The 5-Day Housing program is designed so jails can house OUIL 3rd offenders locally while pending completion of a Substance Use Assessment. Per legislation, the sheriff’s office may be reimbursed for housing costs of offenders. Reimbursement is based upon receipt of actual invoices. It is estimated at a rate of $43.50 per day up to a maximum of five (5) days or $217.50 per inmate with completion of required substance abuse assessment in that time.

Pretrial Supervision Services

The Pretrial Services Program is available in Otsego County for those charged with felony offenses that are moderate to high risk based on the PRAXIS Risk Assessment scores. The program reduces likelihood of reoffending while out on bond and encourages bond compliance through use of supervision and drug/alcohol testing.

The program is designed to increase likelihood of community based sanctions versus incarceration and promotes supervised jail alternatives like the Otsego County Work Camp, MDOC Probation, and Drug Court. The program provides the courts with good faith in the client’s ability to comply with supervision through action by the clients, creating the ability for the courts to make informed decisions while also mitigating the risk to public safety and increasing appropriate jail utilization. 

Eligibility Criteria :   Includes those charged with a felony offence that score moderate to high in overall risk on the PRAXIS Risk Assessment. Those scoring less than moderate to high in overall risk on the PRAXIS will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Those excluded from enrollment are offenders already under MDOC supervision without a new charge. PRAXIS Risk Assessment: scoring three (3) to nine (9) (moderate- high)

Participation Rules:   Comply with all bond conditions and program requirements. All violations are reported immediately and repercussions may include increased bond amount of revocation of bond prior to case resolution.

PRAXIS Risk Assessment

In accordance with MCR 6.106 the Pretrial Supervision Services Program utilizes the PRAXIS Risk Assessment Tool. This tool is utilized to score factors that research has shown to be predictive of pretrial misconduct either failure to appear or re-arrest. The risk score is utilized to develop a bail and supervision recommendations in order to mitigate risk of failure to appear or re-arrest. The goal of utilizing this assessment is to maximize the number of defendants that can be released into the community while detaining those posing to high of a risk to the community.

The assessment consists of a brief interview and review of the defendant’s current charges and criminal history through ICHAT and the Judicial Data Warehouse (JDW). Information obtained during the interview is verified when possible for accuracy through contact with references, employers, schools, family members, probation/parole agents, and others who may have additional information needed to accurately assess the defendant.

The assessment may be used by the 87-A District Court or 46^th Circuit Court as a tool for connecting each eligible defendant with Pretrial Supervision Services and appropriate supervision recommendations based on supervision options currently available for utilization.

 Eligibility Criteria:    All those charged with a felony offence referred by the Jail, Defense Attorney, Judge, Prosecutor, or Magistrate. Those excluded are those who the prosecutor/Judge is unwilling to release on bond with Community Corrections programming.