County hears update on corrections program

Published 10:20 am Thursday, December 21, 2023

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Over 40 state inmates were enrolled in the Community Corrections Program in Chambers County this year. 

Jetta Wood, program director, gave a report on the program for the past year during the Chambers County Commission meeting on Monday. 

The Community Corrections Program is a state-funded community-based supervision program for state inmates. Non-violent offenders can enroll in the program and return to the community in a probationary state. 

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“It’s similar to a felony probation,” Wood said to the VTN after the meeting. 

The goal of the program is to reduce recidivism and allow inmates to rejoin the community and have access to resources that they wouldn’t have in a detention facility.

The enrolled inmates agree to report, receive home visits and consent to searches. During the program, they can live and work in the community. Wood said through the program, she helps some inmates with addiction resources and treatment. They also get help with their diplomas or GED program.

Depending on the plea agreement, inmates stay in the program for 6 months or 12 months.

This year, 43 inmates participated in the program. At this time, 20 are still active while 10 have completed their term. Of those 43, only eight had their enrollment terminated. 

Wood said the program had one inmate transferred to Anniston after the individual was in rehabilitation in the area and decided to stay. However, Chambers County had some placements from Lee County, which is one of a few that does not have a CCP. They also received a placement from Dekalb County. 

Macon, Randolph, Chambers and Tallapoosa counties are all in the same judicial circuit. Wood told the VTN that inmates can come by plea deal, by revoked probation, or straight from the Chambers County Detention Center with a judge’s approval. 

The county receives funding for the program from the state. Chambers County receives $15 per enrolled inmate.