The Michigan Supreme Court announced Monday that it has awarded more than $3.3 million in grants to 24 courts statewide to fund the operation of Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Programs (SSSPP) during Fiscal Year 2020. The SSSPP targets high-risk felony offenders with a history of probation violations or failures. Data from FY 2018 show that unemployment among SSSPP graduates was reduced by nearly 90 percent.
"Swift and Sure programs succeed where traditional programs fail for high-risk probationers by applying intensive supervision and strict sanctions for violations," said Justice Elizabeth T. Clement, who serves as the MSC liaison to SSSPPs. "Seeing how beneficial this rigorous program has been for so many individuals-and communities-across Michigan makes it clear that this funding is money well spent."
In addition to funding, the Supreme Court provides SSSPPs with operational support and resources, including a newly-updated manual on state certification requirements and educational programming.
Other Fiscal Year 2018 report findings and facts about SSSPP graduates in Michigan averaged:
- Less than one bench warrant and 84 percent of graduates had no bench warrants issued.
- 209 drug and alcohol tests and of those, an average of two percent were positive.
- Just over 17 months (521 days) in the program.
SSSPP participants are closely monitored through frequent meetings with Michigan Department of Corrections probation and/or court case management staff and are often tested for drug or alcohol use. SSSPPs aim to improve probationer success by imposing immediate and short jail sanctions for probation violations. Michigan's SSSPP started in 2012 with four courts. The Supreme Court collects data on these programs to share best practices and to target areas that need improvement.
Published: Wed, Oct 23, 2019
