CONNIE BAGGETT
Staff Reporter
March 10, 2004
 

MONROEVILLE -- Officials said they hope to ease prison overcrowding and rehabilitate first-time nonviolent offenders in Conecuh and Monroe counties using a proposed pretrial diversion program that was announced Monday.

District Attorney Tommy Chapman said he had been researching similar programs in other Alabama counties for a few years, and the current prison overcrowding spurred him to act.

Alabama Department of Corrections spokesman Brian Corbett said Tuesday that state prisons had 26,989 inmates in January, the most recent count available. The prisons were designed to house 12,388.

Corbett said the count dropped by 1,350 inmates over last year but not because of less crime. Rather, he said, the drop came from more community corrections programs. Programs like the one proposed in the judicial district that covers Conecuh and Monroe counties are beginning to help, he said.

"This program is for offenders as young as 18 or 16 with driving offenses and other offenses," Chapman said. "This will give them a chance to turn their lives around, and they pay for participation in the program."

Among the offenses that are covered by the proposed program are attempting to elude or reckless driving -- crimes that could end in jail time -- traffic violations other than driving under the influence, property crimes, drug possession, misdemeanors, an offense wherein the victim was not seriously physically injured, or was not a child under 14, a law enforcement officer, school official or correctional officer. Offenses that would not be eligible are drug trafficking or distribution, child or elderly abuse, sex crimes, class A felonies or any crime involving a death.

Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, said he would sponsor the bill in the Legislature.

"Many district attorneys just focus on locking up criminals, but here Mr. Chapman is offering a second chance," Jackson said, "a chance that also makes young people accountable. It's a chance to right a wrong, to go on to a productive life."

Under the program, offenders with underlying drug or alcohol problems will get treatment at their own expense and will be supervised for up to two years. But the program is not limited to those with addictions.

"It could be anger management or other problems," Chapman said, "but research has shown (that) up to 90 percent of crimes are drug or alcohol related."

According to the proposed bill, offenders pay up to $750 when charged with a felony and $500 when charged with a misdemeanor to participate in the diversion. If they satisfy requirements such as furthering education, literacy training, no alcohol or drug use, maintaining employment and others, in two years, they leave the program with no criminal record.

To pay for managing the program, the circuit clerk and the district attorney get to keep a portion of the participants' fees designated for specific uses.

Jackson said the bill could be introduced in the coming weeks and will be implemented upon its passage by the Legislature.

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