Intermediate Punishment Program

In September 1997, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) awarded OAS a Drug and Alcohol Treatment-Based Restrictive Intermediate Punishment (RIP) grant to reduce the state and county prison populations by providing substance abuse treatment as an alternative to incarceration though the Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP). All clients must be referred through the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Clients must be non-violent offenders listed at Levels 3 and 4 in accordance with the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing Guidelines in order to be eligible for the program. Once determined eligible, clients are evaluated for chemical dependency by the Clinical Evaluation Unit (CEU) and, when appropriate, sentenced to IPP. Guidelines for the client to obtain treatment acceptance are similar to the FIR Program. Services provided include behavioral health assessments, substance abuse treatment, vocational trainings, case management and intensive probation supervision. Electronic monitoring is required for clients in non-residential treatment.