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Sunday, April 5, 2015

Sentencing Alternatives: The State Intermediate Punishment Program

               If you have been convicted of a crime in which substance abuse was a contributing factor, the State Intermediate Punishment Program (SIP) may be offered as an alternative to a state prison sentence. SIP is a program designed for offenders convicted of drug-related offenses. Those sentenced to an SIP sentence receive a flat 2 year sentence that may potentially be followed by a term of probation.

               SIP is a 24 month program. 7 months must be served in prison, and 4 of those 7 months must be spent in a therapeutic community. Afterwards, a minimum of two months is served in a community-based therapeutic community, and then a minimum of six months in outpatient treatment, where the offender will usually be housed in a halfway house.  Any time left remaining after these phases is served on supervised reintegration into the community.  During that time DOC staff will monitor their progress in the community and offer additional services or treatment plans tailored to their individual needs. Each offender in SIP has a personalized treatment plan to help them address their substance abuse issues.

               The choice of whether to pursue participation in the SIP program is both a personal one as well as strategic. SIP is an excellent program to help offenders who have failed at other forms of inpatient treatment to finally kick their addiction issues. An SIP sentence may be a shorter alternative to a lengthy state prison sentence. However, failure to complete SIP has repercussions.  A defendant does not automatically receive credit for time served under an SIP sentence, so upon revocation much of the defendant’s time served under the SIP sentence may not be credited towards any sentence received upon re-sentencing.  Also, depending on the nature of the offense SIP is offered as a sentencing alternative for, the SIP sentence may be longer, or shorter than the standard range sentence the judge may have been contemplating in the offender's case. 


               If you have been accused of a crime where drugs and/or alcohol were a contributing factor or are facing a parole or probation revocation in which they are, it is important that you know what the SIP program entails as it may be a viable sentencing alternative for you.  Attorney Frank Walker knows the ins and outs of the SIP program and can counsel you on the pros and cons of pursuing the program. Call Frank Walker Law today at 412-315-7441 for a consultation.




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Pittsburgh Criminal Defense & Injury Attorney Frank Walker
Pittsburgh Criminal Defense - Injury Site
Morgantown, West Virginia Criminal Defense Site
1-800-496-4143 Toll Free
412.315.7441 Office
412.532.6805 Cell

Follow us on Twitter @frankwalkerlaw

Sentencing Alternatives: State Motivational Bootcamp

Pennsylvania offers sentencing alternatives to state confinement to address issues of recidivism, prison overcrowding, and crimes motivated by drug abuse by the offender.  One of these sentencing alternatives is the State Intermediate Punishment Program (SIP) which is discussed in another post. The one I want to talk about in this post is the State Motivational Bootcamp at Quehanna.  The Bootcamp program is a six month program for both men and women offenders that entails intense physical activity and regimented programming designed to teach offenders self-discipline and work ethic.  The Boot Camp is styled after a military style boot camp so there is a focus on discipline, structure, and respect for others.

               Inmates assigned to the boot camp program are sent to either SCI Camp Hill or SCI- Muncy as their designated diagnostic center where they will take a battery of strength tests. The offenders time in boot camp is highly regimented and includes individual and group counseling sessions tailored to the offender's individual needs.  Programming includes sessions related to addressing substance abuse issues and alternatives to violent and antisocial behavior.   The Boot Camp has a mandatory education program for those without a high school diploma to aid offenders in obtaining their GED. Inmates also work on community service projects such as planting trees, painting buildings, and cleaning up area parks. 

               In order to be eligible for admission to the boot camp program, the offender must be sentenced to state confinement, the minimum of which is not more than two years and the maximum of which is five years or less. Or, the offender must be serving a sentence the minimum of which is not more than three years and the inmate must be within two years of their minimum release date.  Eligible participants must be under the age of 35 at the time they are approved for boot camp. They must also not be serving a sentence for Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, Rape, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Kidnapping, or Felony One Robbery. Additionally, the offender must also not be serving a sentence in which a deadly weapon was used in the commission of the offense.


               Approval for the boot camp program is influenced by the discretion of the prosecuting attorney and the sentencing judge.  It is important for offenders wishing to pursue these programs to address the issue sufficiently ahead of sentencing to prepare their case for admission to the program.  That’s where an experienced attorney with excellent working relationships can give you a leg up.  Attorney Frank Walker has experience helping those facing state prison sentences obtain admission into alternative programs including the Quehanna Bootcamp and State Intermediate Punishment.  Call our office at 412-315-7441 to set up an appointment and find out more.



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Pittsburgh Criminal Defense & Injury Attorney Frank Walker
Pittsburgh Criminal Defense - Injury Site
Morgantown, West Virginia Criminal Defense Site
1-800-496-4143 Toll Free
412.315.7441 Office
412.532.6805 Cell

Follow us on Twitter @frankwalkerlaw