HB 177: Nonviolent Offender Reentry Program

• The Department of Corrections shall develop and administer a reentry program for nonviolent offenders with primary offenses of third-degree felonies who have no prior convictions for forcible felonies, firearm-related offenses, sexual offenses, or specified violent crimes.

• Program participants must serve at least 6 months and complete intensive substance abuse treatment, general education development, adult basic education, vocational training, and other rehabilitative programming.

• Eligible offenders must have served at least half their original sentence, volunteered for participation, and been identified as needing substance abuse treatment; the Department of Corrections must request sentencing court approval, and the State Attorney has 15 days to file objections.

• Upon successful completion, the sentencing court may modify the sentence and place the offender on drug offender probation for no less than the remainder of the original prison term; the court may revoke probation and impose the original sentence if conditions are violated.

• The Department shall submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing program implementation, participants, costs, sentence modifications, and recidivism rates; the act takes effect October 1, 2012.