NCJ Number
143823
Date Published
1989
Length
31 pages
Annotation
Special Alternative Incarceration (SAI) is a 90-day program of strict discipline, hard labor, physical training, and drill, along with educational programming, group counseling, substance abuse treatment, and life skills training, that is offered to probationers in Michigan.
Abstract
The intent of SAI is to help young offenders between 17 and 25 years of age develop self-esteem, individual responsibility, discipline, and a solid work ethic. Between 1988, when the program started, and 1989, 446 probationers were admitted; 193 graduated, 140 were terminated for various reasons, and 113 were in the program as of March 1989. A survey of probation officers supervising SAI graduates asked them to assess probationer adjustment, employment, rearrest, and reincarceration. Of 161 program graduates, 91.5 percent were classified as employed/good, unemployed/good, employed/poor, and unemployed/poor. Fourteen had technical probation violations pending, and 15 had been rearrested or incarcerated on a probation violation. Data are provided on SAI admissions, graduates, and failures for the March 1988-February 1989 period. An SAI program factsheet is included, as well as Michigan legislation authorizing the program and media articles about the program.