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
