NCJ Number
146203
Journal
Court Review Dated: (Winter 1992) Pages: 14-16
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the components and benefits of Morris County's (New Jersey) Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program (SLAP).
Abstract
Under SLAP a convicted person sentenced to a county jail term is not incarcerated but rather performs community service on public works projects throughout the county under the supervision of the correctional authorities. Those selected for this program have usually been convicted of motor vehicle violations that carry mandatory jail terms. They may be first offenders convicted of low-level nonviolent criminal charges or offenders who have not complied with a previous sentence that required payment of fines, performance of community service, or attendance at treatment programs. SLAP is thus an alternative to incarceration ("Slam") and to avoidance of punishment ("Scram"). SLAP has produced a 20-percent decrease in the jail population from 340 inmates to 270. SLAP provides the courts and the entire criminal justice system an aura of credibility with both the offender and the public by establishing that offenders must and do pay for their offenses.