ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION (ATI) PROGRAMS
The Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (DPCA) funds and oversees a variety of pretrial services and correctional alternative programs throughout New York State, often referred to as Alternative to Incarceration or ATI programs. These programs may fall under the authority of governmental or non-profit agencies. They operate in conjunction with the criminal justice system in all New York State counties and the City of New York.
Currently, OPCAfunds approximately 165 ATI programs designed to reduce reliance on pretrial detention and/or incarceration and operate in a manner consistent with public safety. The following are examples of alternative to detention and incarceration measures and programs funded through OPCAin New York State:
- Mental Illness Programs
- Pretrial Services
- TASC and Drug and Alcohol Programs
- Specialized Programs
- Community Service Programs
- Defender Based Advocacy
Shared Services: Alternatives to Incarceration for Defendants
and Offenders with Mental Illness
In 2002, the New York State Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (DPCA) first awarded seven grants mostly at $50,000 per year
for a five year period, to provide specialized mental health services
to defendants and offenders who are seriously mentally ill (eligible Axis
In the pilot phase of this initiative, one of the awards provided, beginning in July 1, 2001, was to the Education and Assistance Corporation for a project implemented in the Bronx, New York City. The subsequent successful award recipients received funding to continue with program development and enhanced services for a five year period, beginning July 1, 2002.
To ensure the success of this program, OPCAhas requested the assistance of the NYS Office of Mental Health, the NYS Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled, the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors, and the NYS Council of Probation Administrators. The collaboration demonstrates DPCA's commitment to encourage the availability and the coordination of services and resources available for this shared population to avoid unnecessary incarceration.
The following is a list of the award recipients:
New York City Metropolitan Area:
- The Bronx Mental Health Diversion Services, operated
by the Education and Assistance Corporation (EAC), has been providing
screening, assessment, treatment planning, placement and case management
each year, since July 2001, for 100 or more seriously mentally ill offenders
with co-occurring substance abuse disorders. This project has enhanced
the Bronx Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities (TASC) alternative
to incarceration service for prison-bound, substance abusing offenders,
including the District Attorney's Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison
Program, for defendants with serious and persistent mental illnesses.
The program model builds upon the current TASC model, by adding a multi-disciplinary
mental health team to meet the needs of dually-diagnosed offenders and
uses a special Supreme Court Mental Health Part to establish treatment
diversion orders and to monitor treatment compliance. The unit includes
a psychiatrist, psychologist, and specially trained forensic case managers
who work together to achieve the best treatment outcomes. With the court,
the treatment team determines an accurate diagnosis, performs specialized
risk assessments, develops a treatment plan, and monitors and coordinates
the care of the identified defendants, throughout their participation
in the program.
- The Nathaniel Project, created by the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES), began work under this project in 2002 and provides 24 months of extra-intensive supervision for felon-indicted individuals who are seriously and persistently mentally ill. The program offers comprehensive mental health and integrated substance abuse treatment, rehabilitation, case management, court advocacy and reporting, and monitored linkages to housing and social services. The project effectively links the justice and mental health systems and has a track record of services for this specialized population. The Nathaniel Project was licensed as an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program by the NYS Office of Mental Health in 2003. The ACT team is a mobile multi-disciplinary staff including a psychiatrist and nurse in addition to social workers, a substance abuse counselor, and a peer specialist who provides intensive treatment services to participants directly in the community.
Other Programs Located Around New York State
- The Albany County Rapid Assessment, Intervention and Linkage
Program combines the abilities of the Albany County Probation
Department with the Rehabilitation Support Services, Inc. for a placement
and a case management service that coordinates services and monitors
community-based conditions of release for females who have an Axis I
mental health diagnosis and are under probation supervision. The case
management service links individuals with available mental health resources
and in collaboration with probation, works to ensure that participants
follow through with treatment. General mental health training for probation
officers, as well as crisis intervention services, is also provided.
- Cattaraugus County Safe Communities/Safe Futures
has an intensive probation program operated in conjunction with the
Cattaraugus County Community Services Department's Forensic Continuing
Day Treatment Program. This program operates as a day reporting center
for those probationers in need of such services and provides intensive
supervision. Areas addressed in this collaborative effort include treatment,
medication, compliance, substance abuse, education, employment, homelessness
and life skills. Particular emphasis is placed on working with individuals
who are currently incarcerated or who are at high risk of incarceration
with serious mental illnesses.
- The Erie County Shared Population Program is using
an integrated service approach for addressing mentally ill defendants
and offenders supervised by Erie County Probation Department in their
community working with the Erie County Department of Mental Health,
Forensic Mental Health and Horizon Health Services, Inc. The model features
the utilization of a therapeutic team review of defendants at several
points in criminal justice process. Intensive case planning and individualized
treatment plans are conducted with all enrollees using a person centered
approach.
- The Lewis County Transitions to Independence Process (TIP)
has been developed within the Community Mental Health Center
to work with youth (16 to 21 years of age) who have a serious mental
illness and are defendants/offenders under the probation department's
jurisdiction. TIP is a promising evidenced-based intervention that focuses
on four primary domains: employment, education, housing and community
life adjustment. The Program Coordinator assists participants in obtaining
and/or stabilizing resources related to these categories, including
linkage to services, case monitoring and providing transportation as
necessary. Program effectiveness is enhanced by using a variety of other
existing community services.
- The Madison County Forensic Case Management Program was jointly developed by the Madison County Probation and Mental Health Departments. In June 2003, Central New York Services, Inc. was contracted to provide an employee who serves as the Forensic Case Manager, located in the Mental Health Department. That person will work with Probation, Mental Health and BOCES to develop shared services plans for program participants. The program also assists in applying for benefits with the Department of Social Services and other appropriate services such as vocational and educational services.
Pretrial Services
Most counties in New York State have implemented a pretrial release
service, either through programs offered by the county probation department
or through a community-based organization, to avoid unnecessary detention
of defendants who are unable to post bail. The priority function of all
the pretrial services programs is to determine defendant eligibility for
release and to provide verifiable information such as the defendant's
community ties with regard to residence and employment. The information
provided to the courts is critical to the courts in determining whether
TASC and Drug and Alcohol Programs
New York State's TASC (Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities)
and other treatment programs, supported with state funding, offers treatment
alternatives for defendants sixteen and older, facing a jail or prison
sentence, who are non-violent and have indicators of problem(s) with alcohol
or other drugs.
Specialized Programs
Specialized ATI programs describe a variety of different approaches
to the management of offenders aimed at maintaining support within the
community. Here, target populations are identified and unique supervision
of such populations is accomplished. Example populations include women, juvenile offenders, and individuals with multiple needs.
Specialized ATI programs currently state funded are; family court or family
oriented and YO/JO (youthful offender/juvenile offender) services, residential
programs often involving addiction treatment services, and programs structured
exclusively to address the special challenges faced by female offenders.
Community Service
These programs provide the courts with a means of creating a meaningful
sanction for non-violent offenders who will return, through unpaid supervised
work, an established amount of service to the community, as "payment"
for the harm caused by their criminal behavior (sex offenders are excluded
from any consideration for a community service alternative). The primary
goals of community service involve community safety, while enforcing the
court order of a specified number of community service hours.
Defender Based Advocacy (DBA)
Defender Based Advocacy programs generally have a direct affiliation
to the defense bar including the Public Defender's Office, Legal Aid Services
or agencies serving private attorneys representing the defendant. The
significant contribution of the Defender-Based Advocacy
service is the expanded capacity to screen defendants who could be appropriately
managed within a community corrections setting, preparing a needs-based
assessment and a client-specific plan for community based orders and conditions
of release. The client-specific plan may includes recommendations for
community supervision, employment and/or treatment options all geared
toward the defendant's success in the community.