New Alternative Sentencing Program in Sacramento

 Alternative sentencing programs allow people convicted of crimes to participate in programs that attempt to alter behavior patterns and enhance skills and therefore reduce the likelihood of committing crimes in the future. Though each program has its own way of doing things, typically a judge will tell the convicted person that he can avoid going to jail if he fulfills all of the program requirements, such as counseling, community service, and testing. Failure to meet these requirements will result in expulsion from the program and imposition of the original jail sentence.

Sacramento County has a new alternative sentencing program called Ascend. It is like other programs in that it offers something different - and hopefully more beneficial - than typical jail sentences. https://askcompetentlawyer.com/ The Ascend program is available for certain misdemeanor cases - determined by the judge - and provides an array of self-improvement activities, such as community service, career counseling, and daily monitoring.

What's different about Ascend is that it is funded by program participants rather than the county or state. Because the program's eight three-hour classes cost $500, not everyone will be able to take part. Organizers hope, however, that as the program shows positive results, funding can be obtained to allow some people to participate at lower cost.

To put this in context, drug court - used extensively in Sacramento, Placer, and Yolo Counties - is a well established example of alternative sentencing. There are a couple different options, but the basic structure is participation in a drug treatment program rather than being sentenced to jail. The idea behind these programs is that helping people beat their drug addiction makes more sense than locking them up. The hope is that this results in reduced drug use and less money spent on incarceration. Unlike Ascend, however, drug court programs are government funded.