ESSO
Enhanced Supervision and Sentencing Options (ESSO)
This department operates several Enhanced Supervision and Sentencing Options which encompass a continuum of graduated responses designed to address offender non- compliance.
Whenever a recommendation of incarceration is being considered by the Probation Officer either at the presentence investigation or violation of probation stage, the case must be screened before this department's ESSO Committee for possible sentencing options in the various ESSO programs. The goal of the Committee is to ensure that all program options are examined in an attempt to reduce reliance on incarceration. The Committee screens the case for eligibility and appropriateness for all the programs and a decision is then made as to which program, if any, could assist the defendant/probationer in rehabilitation while at the same time not jeopardize public safety. Many factors are taken into consideration by the Committee in the screening process including the defendant’s/probationer’s legal history, the nature of the present offense, their history of compliance with the terms and conditions of prior or current probation term, gravity of the non compliant behaviors, danger to self and others and other case specific circumstances.
Greatest Risk Supervision
Greatest Risk Supervision Probation is an option for those individuals who present the greatest level of risk to recidivate and thus fail local or state incarceration. The caseload size is smaller than that of a regular supervision caseload, which allows the Probation Officer to provide more meaningful supervision and service delivery through increased contacts with the probationer. As a result, the Probation Officer is able to identify problems early and ensure that services are delivered to the probationer so that they are given every possible opportunity to modify their behavior to a law abiding lifestyle.
The goals of Greatest Risk Supervision are as follows:
- to ensure public safety through restrictive supervision and monitoring
- to promote law-abiding, productive behavior through effective case management services
- to hold offenders accountable
- to reduce the criminal justice system's reliance on incarceration
- to reduce state and local costs for incarceration
- to improve the likelihood of a successful outcome
Greatest Risk Supervision is a time limited duration of 9-12 months. If successful on this caseload, the probationer is transferred to a regular caseload for ongoing supervision.
Service Work Alternative Program (SWAP)
The Service Work Alternative Program (SWAP) is an Enhanced Supervision and Sentencing Option for adults who have been convicted of a nonviolent crime and have been ordered by the criminal courts to perform community service. Participants perform their mandated hours in a structured, supervised program at various not-for-profit sites located throughout the county. Emphasis is placed on encouraging participants to learn new job skills and gain self esteem while giving back to the community (Restorative Justice) for the negative effects of their offending behavior.
Day Reporting
The Tompkins County Day Reporting Program, located in the Human Services Building, is one component of the Department’s Enhanced Supervision and Sentencing Option (ESSO) continuum. Day Reporting is an innovative option for those involved with the courts that increases community based supervision, provides classes and counseling, enhances family functioning, and reserves jail resources for those most appropriate for incarceration. Participants are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their actions, repair the harm caused to their victims, their families and their communities, and develop skills to enable them to become more productive members of the community.
Participants are mandated by the courts to attend the program which allows them to live in the community while serving their sentence or awaiting trial or sentencing. Participants can attend the Center's Day Reporting Program as a condition of probation or violation of probation, as a Drug Court sanction, as a pre-trial supervised release. In addition the program can be utilized by individuals who are attempting re-entry into the community following a period of incarceration. Participants are referred to Day Reporting as a result of Pretrial release order, Drug Court referral, Presentence order or Parole referral. The length of the program varies as determined by the referral source or court order.
Contact
320 W. Martin Luther King Jr./State Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-274-7504
607-272-0783 Fax
Electronic Monitoring (EM)
The Electronic Monitoring community based program provides 24-hour monitoring of an individual through an electronic “bracelet”. This is a cost effective enhanced option for adults who pose a moderate to high risk to the community, and is used with juveniles as an alternative to detention. It allows individuals to maintain their employment or participation in school, avoid separation from family, and participate in community based treatment programs.
Drug Treatment Court
The goal of the Ithaca Community Treatment Court (Misdemeanor) and Tompkins County Felony Drug Treatment Court is to assist the participants of those programs in breaking the cycle of addiction and criminal activity. The Treatment Court programs provide the defendant with a highly structured environment that combines judicial oversight, probation supervision, substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, graduated sanctions/responses and education/employment training in an effort to encourage positive behaviors and reduce recidivism.
Pretrial Release (PTR)
The Pretrial Release Program facilitates release for incarcerated individuals who meet appropriate criteria. All defendants in custody at the Tompkins County Public Safety Building who have bail set by a court are given the opportunity to be interviewed for this program. A Probation Assistant reports to the jail daily and conducts an initial screening and personal interview with the defendants. A cursory investigation is then conducted into the defendant’s legal, social, and employment history with emphasis placed on past cooperation with court orders, prior warrants for failing to appear in court, and personal references to determine the defendant’s potential for appearing for future court dates. Following an evaluation as to the defendant’s ties to the community and potential flight risk from their legal charges, a recommendation is made to the court regarding release status. The options include: Release on Recognizance (ROR), reduced bail, or release under supervision (RUS) to the Probation Department with options of Electronic Monitoring or Day Reporting as a Condition of Release if appropriate.