State Alcohol and Crime Briefs

For further information on these and other initiatives, please contact Stephen K. Talpins.

State-by-State »

February 2012 State Briefs


Alaska

  • Alaskan legislators held a “Smart Justice” summit to discuss ways to reduce the state’s reliance on incarceration, save costs and reduce recidivism. Learn more »

Florida

  • Senator Ellyn Senator Bogdanoff (S 448) and Representatives Porth and Pafford filed a bill (HB 177) that directs the Department of Corrections to develop and administer a reentry program for nonviolent offenders. The program, which would be designed to reduce recidivism and cut costs and include mandatory substance abuse and educational assessments, substance abuse treatment, educational opportunities and other rehabilitative programming. More information »

Indiana

  • Allen County officials are piloting portions of the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program. More information

Missouri

  • Governor Jay Nixon, the Supreme Court and the legislature created a bipartisan 13 member Working Group on Sentencing and Corrections. Assisted by the Pew Center on the States and funded by the United States Department of Justice, the group will develop recommendations to improve public safety and reduce costs. Learn more »

Montana

  • After a successful pilot of the 24-7 Sobriety Program, the legislature and the Governor signed passed the 24-7 Sobriety Act at Attorney General Steve Bullock’s request. Read the text and legislative history » The Act, which went into effect on October 1, 2011 provided funding to expand the program statewide. Download General Bullock’s article on the program.

Washington

  • The Seattle City Council and Washington State Department of Corrections launched a pilot program for offenders February 2011, the Washington Intensive Supervision Program (WISP). Based upon the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program, it appears to be reducing drug use and costs. Traditionally, offenders who test positive for drugs on probation faced a lengthy violation hearing process and 30 to 90 days in jail. WISP offenders face 48 to 72 hours, but are sentenced shortly after being caught. The swift and certain sanctions appear to be making a difference. Offenders participating in the program “were two-thirds less likely to test positive in randomly assigned drug tests than offenders in a control group.” More information »