In Support of HOPE Program Initiatives
Resolution 3: In Support of HOPE Program Initiatives
WHEREAS, in 2007, the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators adopted Resolution 12, In Support of Sentencing Practices That Promote Public Safety and Reduce Recidivism; and
WHEREAS, the Conferences encouraged states to adopt sentencing and corrections policies and programs based on their effectiveness in reducing recidivism as demonstrated through research and evaluation; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program focuses on reducing probation violations, drug use, and new crimes among higher-risk offenders by incorporating research-based practices such as applying swift, certain, and graduated sanctions for offender noncompliance with probation conditions; and
WHEREAS, a National Institute of Justice evaluation of the HOPE program indicates significantly improved outcomes in terms of drug use, missed probation appointments, new arrests, and probation revocations; and
WHEREAS, federal legislation has been introduced to create a competitive demonstration grant program for state, tribal, and local courts to establish probation programs based on the HOPE program, and the legislation calls for the participation of all key partners in a jurisdiction, including court leaders, in developing the program and preparing the grant application;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices encourages educational activities to inform state courts of the research-based practices exemplified by the HOPE program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference encourages its members to consider replication of the HOPE program model by including graduated, community-based sanctions as well as jail stays for probation violators and by recognizing the program's applicability to non drug-involved offenders; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference views HOPE program initiatives as a tool for enhancing the effectiveness of probation and not as a substitute for drug courts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conference urges Congress to favorably consider legislation to help courts implement HOPE program initiatives, provided the legislation does not result in a reduction of federal support for drug courts.
Adopted as proposed by the CCJ/COSCA Criminal Justice Committee at the Conference of Chief Justices 2010 Midyear Meeting.