WHAT IS SENTENCING SERVICES?
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___Since
1983, the Sentencing Services of One Step Further
has provided the Court with plans that recommend specific forms
of punishment and treatment for clients. Today, Sentencing Services is one of
many Sentencing Services Programs that operates throughout the State
of North Carolina.
WHAT IS
A PLAN?
___A
Sentencing Services plan is a written document that is presented to the
Court to provide valuable information to the judge that can assist with
sentencing the client to appropriate levels of supervision. For those
clients that are in need of some kind of treatment - be it substance abuse
or mental health treatment - a Sentencing Plan will connect them to
treatment providers that are suited to treat that specific client.
A typical plan
takes into account such things as:
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- A detailed social history
- Results of any assessments
given
- Recommendations for Probation
(where appropriate)
- Mental Health needs
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- Education Needs
- Victim Restitutuion
- Employment
- Substance Abuse needs
- Residence
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WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
To
be eligible for a Sentencing Plan a client must:
- Be charged with a felony or
misdemeanor that is eligible for either an active sentence or an
intermediate sentence.
- Not have been sentenced yet
- Have their attorney or public
defender's approval
- Not be charged with any sex
offenses or crimes involving a minor
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Common Charges that One Step Further
works with includes:
- Breaking or Entering
- Embezzlement
- Possession of Stolen Goods
- Larceny
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- Fraud
- Possession/Sale of Drugs
- Common Law Robbery
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WHAT HAPPENS
AT SENTENCING SERVICES?
___Sentencing Services
can receive referrals from defense attorneys, judges, district
attorneys, clients, and community residents. If the referral comes from
the client or a community resident, Sentencing Services must first get the
attorney or public defender's approval to work on the plan. Once approval
has been established, a sentencing specialist is assigned to the case and
they will:
- Interview
the defendant
- Verify as much information provided
by the client as possible
- Asess the client's risk to re-offend
on community supervision
- Assess the degree of the client's drug and alcohol
use
- Arrange any further evaluations that are necessary
- Link the
client
to resources that can address causes of his/her criminal behavior
- Present the information in a written plan for
the sentencing judge
WHO BENEFITS?
- The judge
makes a more informed decision based on the defendant's plan.
- The victim
can be repaid
- The defendants
remain in the community to work, support their families, pay taxes,
and repay
the community for their criminal behavior.
- The taxpayer
saves tax dollars when fewer nonviolent defendants are incarcerated.
HOW MUCH
DOES A SENTENCING SERVCES PLAN COST?
___The
cost of a Sentencing Plan for the client is based on a fee schedule developed in accordance with a
client's
ability to pay and a combination of public and private funding resources.
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