ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING

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WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING

Alternative sentencing in Connecticut is provided under the Alternative Incarceration Program (AIP), which was established by the state legislature in 1989. The AIP allows certain sentenced offenders to avoid spending time in prison if they satisfy certain conditions, such as performing community service or participating in certain residential or nonresidential programs. A separate Alternative Incarceration Program for young male offenders was also established in 1989, which requires imprisonment for up to 180 days in a special alternative incarceration unit in addition to satisfying various probation conditions. An AIP includes, but is not limited to, intensive probation, community service, or residential and nonresidential programs approved by the chief court administrator, and are usually provided by non-profit community-based agencies, or by some municipal social services/youth services departments.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING

People convicted of some felonies and any misdemeanor may be referred to an AIP by court order, but only where either the stated plea agreement or statutory penalty provides for a prison term. People convicted of a capital or class A felony or of crimes that carry a mandatory minimum sentence, manslaughter in the first degree, manslaughter in the second degree, manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle, misconduct with a motor vehicle, sexual assault in a spousal or cohabitating relationship, or the sale of illegal drugs, are not eligible for an AIP.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

• Search by service name: Alternative Sentencing/Supervision

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PREPARED BY: 211/kq
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: October2011