Project SAFE: Improving Outcomes of Transferred Juveniles on Adult Probation

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

The goal of Project SAFE (Swift Accountable Fair Enforcement) is to immediately address the target behaviors of drug and alcohol use by probationers with consistent but proportionate consequences instead of waiting to file a petition to revoke probation once numerous violations have occurred. A lengthy petition to revoke can increase the likelihood of a prison term being imposed. Transferred youth attend a Project SAFE Orientation with the designated judge during which the rules of the program are explained. Probationers are placed on weekly random drug testing. They are required to call their probation officer the day after a drug test to find out the results. If they are positive, or admit to drug or alcohol use, they are required to appear in court the next morning for a hearing. If the probationer misses a drug test, they are also required to appear in court following the same procedure. The Court imposes a brief jail term, usually two days. Each subsequent violation may increase the jail time in similar increments. After a year in operation, the program has decreased the numbers of new arrests, petitions to revoke probation, and probationers revoked to prison.