Sec. 34a.

(1) A prisoner sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment under the jurisdiction of the department, regardless of when he or she was sentenced, shall be considered by the department for placement in a special alternative incarceration unit established under section 3 of the special alternative incarceration act, 1988 PA 287, MCL 798.13, if the prisoner meets the eligibility requirements of subsections (2) and (3). For a prisoner committed to the jurisdiction of the department on or after March 19, 1992, the department shall determine before the prisoner leaves the reception center whether the prisoner is eligible for placement in a special alternative incarceration unit, although actual placement may take place at a later date. A determination of eligibility does not guarantee placement in a unit.

(2) To be eligible for placement in a special alternative incarceration unit, the prisoner shall meet all of the following requirements:

(a) The prisoner's minimum sentence does not exceed either of the following limits, as applicable:

(i) Twenty-four months or less for a violation of section 110 or 110a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.110 and 750.110a, if the violation involved any occupied dwelling house.

(ii) Thirty-six months or less for any other crime.

(b) The prisoner has never previously been placed in a special alternative incarceration unit as either a prisoner or a probationer, unless he or she was removed from a special alternative incarceration unit for medical reasons as specified in subsection (7).

(c) The prisoner is physically able to participate in the program.

(d) The prisoner does not appear to have any mental disability that would prevent participation in the program.

(e) The prisoner is serving his or her first prison sentence.

(f) At the time of sentencing, the judge did not prohibit participation in the program in the judgment of sentence.

(g) The prisoner is otherwise suitable for the program, as determined by the department.

(h) The prisoner is not serving a sentence for any of the following crimes:

(i) A violation of section 49, 80, 83, 89, 91, 157b, 158, 207, 260, 316, 317, 327, 328, 335a, 338, 338a, 338b, 349, 349a, 350, 422, 436, 511, 520b, 529, 529a, 531, or 544 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.49, 750.80, 750.83, 750.89, 750.91, 750.157b, 750.158, 750.207, 750.260, 750.316, 750.317, 750.327, 750.328, 750.335a, 750.338, 750.338a, 750.338b, 750.349, 750.349a, 750.350, 750.422, 750.436, 750.511, 750.520b, 750.529, 750.529a, 750.531, and 750.544.

(ii) A violation of section 145c, 520c, 520d, or 520g of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145c, 750.520c, 750.520d, and 750.520g.

(iii) A violation of section 72, 73, or 75 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.72, 750.73, and 750.75.

(iv) A violation of section 86, 112, 136b, 193, 195, 213, 319, 321, 329, or 397 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.86, 750.112, 750.136b, 750.193, 750.195, 750.213, 750.319, 750.321, 750.329, and 750.397.

(v) A violation of section 2 of 1968 PA 302, MCL 752.542.

(vi) An attempt to commit a crime described in subparagraphs (i) to (v).

(vii) A violation occurring on or after January 1, 1992, of section 625(4) or (5) of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625.

(viii) A crime for which the prisoner was punished under section 10, 11, or 12 of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.10, 769.11, and 769.12.

(3) A prisoner who is serving a sentence for a violation of section 7401 or 7403 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 and 333.7403, and who has previously been convicted for a violation of section 7401 or 7403(2)(a), (b), or (e) of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 and 333.7403, is not eligible for placement in a special alternative incarceration unit until after he or she has served the equivalent of the mandatory minimum sentence prescribed by statute for that violation.

(4) If the sentencing judge prohibited a prisoner's participation in the special alternative incarceration program in the judgment of sentence, that prisoner shall not be placed in a special alternative incarceration unit. If the sentencing judge permitted the prisoner's participation in the special alternative incarceration program in the judgment of sentence, that prisoner may be placed in a special alternative incarceration unit if the department determines that the prisoner also meets the requirements of subsections (2) and (3). If the sentencing judge neither prohibited nor permitted a prisoner's participation in the special alternative incarceration program in the judgment of sentence, and the department determines that the prisoner meets the eligibility requirements of subsections (2) and (3), the department shall notify the judge or the judge's successor, the prosecuting attorney for the county in which the prisoner was sentenced, and any victim of the crime for which the prisoner was committed if the victim has submitted to the department a written request for any notification under section 19(1) of the William Van Regenmorter crime victim's rights act, 1985 PA 87, MCL 780.769, of the proposed placement of the prisoner in the special alternative incarceration unit. The notices shall be sent not later than 30 days before placement is intended to occur. The department shall not place the prisoner in a special alternative incarceration unit unless the sentencing judge, or the judge's successor, notifies the department, in writing, that he or she does not object to the proposed placement. In making the decision on whether or not to object, the judge, or judge's successor, shall review any impact statement submitted under section 14 of the William Van Regenmorter crime victim's rights act, 1985 PA 87, MCL 780.764, by the victim or victims of the crime of which the prisoner was convicted.

(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), a prisoner shall not be placed in a special alternative incarceration unit unless the prisoner consents to that placement and agrees that the department may suspend or restrict privileges generally afforded other prisoners including, but not limited to, the areas of visitation, property, mail, publications, commissary, library, and telephone access. However, the department may not suspend or restrict the prisoner's access to the prisoner grievance system.

(6) Notwithstanding subsections (4) and (5), a prisoner shall not be placed in a special alternative incarceration unit unless all of the following conditions are met for the prisoner at the special alternative incarceration unit:

(a) Upon entry into the special alternative incarceration unit, a validated risk and need assessment from which a prisoner-specific transition accountability plan and prisoner-specific programming during program enrollment are utilized.

(b) Interaction with community-based service providers through established prison in-reach services from the community to which the prisoner will return is utilized.

(c) Prisoner discharge planning is utilized.

(d) Community follow-up services are utilized.

(7) A prisoner may be placed in a special alternative incarceration program for a period of not less than 90 days or more than 120 days. If, during that period, the prisoner misses more than 5 days of program participation due to medical excuse for illness or injury occurring after he or she was placed in the program, the period of placement shall be increased by the number of days missed, beginning with the sixth day of medical excuse, up to a maximum of 20 days. However, the total number of days a prisoner may be placed in this program, including days missed due to medical excuse, shall not exceed 120 days. A medical excuse shall be verified by a physician's statement. A prisoner who is medically unable to participate in the program for more than 25 days shall be returned to a state correctional facility but may be reassigned to the program if the prisoner meets the eligibility requirements of subsections (2) and (3).

(8) Upon certification of completion of the special alternative incarceration program, the prisoner shall be placed on parole. A prisoner paroled under this section shall have conditions of parole as determined appropriate by the parole board and shall be placed on parole for not less than 18 months, or the balance of the prisoner's minimum sentence, whichever is greater, with at least the first 120 days under intensive supervision.

(9) The parole board may suspend or revoke parole for any prisoner paroled under this section subject to sections 39a and 40a. For a prisoner other than a prisoner subject to disciplinary time, if parole is revoked before the expiration of the prisoner's minimum sentence, less disciplinary credits, the parole board shall forfeit, under section 33(13) of 1893 PA 118, MCL 800.33, all disciplinary credits that were accumulated during special alternative incarceration, and the prisoner shall be considered for parole under section 35.

(10) The department shall report annually to the legislature the impact of the operation of this section, including a report concerning recidivism.

(11) The department shall contract annually for third-party evaluations that report on both of the following:

(a) The implementation of the requirements of subsection (6).

(b) The success of the special alternative incarceration program as revised under subsection (6), as evidenced by the extent to which participants subsequently violate the conditions of their parole, have their orders of parole revoked, or revictimize as evidenced by being arrested or convicted for new offenses, absconding from parole, or having outstanding warrants.

(12) Each prisoner or probationer placed in the special alternative incarceration program shall fully participate in the Michigan prisoner reentry initiative.

History: Add. 2010, Act 194, Imd. Eff. Sept. 30, 2010 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 259, Imd. Eff. July 2, 2012 Compiler's Notes: Former MCL 791.234a, which pertained to placement of prisoner in special alternative incarceration unit, was repealed by Act 107 of 2009, Eff. Sept. 30, 2010.Popular Name: Department of Corrections Act