Pinellas County Alternative Sanctions Program

One of the best ways to understand the alternative sanctions program (APD) in Pinellas County or Pasco County is to read ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2016-017 PI-CIR for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

You do not have to accept the alternative sanctions. Call an experienced criminal defense attorney to find out about contesting an allegation of violation of probation. Also, learn more about the pros and cons of the alternative sanctions program in Pinellas and Pasco County, FL.

Administrative Order 2014-079 PI-CIR for ASP

Administrative Order 2014-079 PI-CIR was created to establish an Alternative Sanctions Program (“ASP”) through collaboration between the Sixth Judicial Circuit (“the Court”) and the Florida Department of Corrections (“DOC”).

That administrative order was amended by Administrative Order 2016-012 PI-CIR to remove language limiting participation in the ASP to those offenders who were sentenced in section Q. The DOC has now requested that Administrative Order 2016-012 PI-CIR be amended to allow participation in the ASP for offenders who were sentenced to drug offender probation and to remove language limiting the maximum number of participants in the ASP.

In accordance with Article V, section 2, Florida Constitution, Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215, and section 43.26, Florida Statutes, it is

ORDERED:

1. The purpose of the ASP is to reduce recidivism and the significant resources expended to prosecute technical violations of probation by creating an administrative option for processing these violations that provides for immediate and court-approved sanctions.
2. Participation in the ASP is limited to offenders who:
   1. were sentenced to felony probation in Pinellas County;
   2. have stable ties to the community;
   3. have a stable residence in Pinellas County;
   4. have committed a qualifying technical violation as outlined in the Alternative Sanction Program Violations/Sanction Matrix, which is Attachment A to this Administrative Order; and
   5. is not an offender described in paragraph 3 of this Administrative Order.
3. An offender may not participate in the ASP if, in his or her underlying case, the offender:
   1. was designated a career offender;
   2. was sentenced to sex offender probation;
   3. was sentenced to community control;
   4. committed any new law violations of probation;
   5. is an absconder; or
   6. violated a “no contact” condition of supervision.
4. DOC will identify offenders eligible for the ASP through their Correctional Probation Officers (“Probation Officer”). The Probation Officer will inform these offenders of their eligibility.
5. Participating in the ASP is voluntary. An offender must decide whether or not to participate in the ASP prior to the filing of an affidavit of violation of probation. For eligible offenders who decline to participate in the ASP, the affidavit of violation of probation will be filed with the Pinellas Clerk of the Circuit Court and they will proceed to formal violation of probation proceedings in Circuit Court. For eligible offenders who elect to participate in the ASP, the Technical Violation Notification form, which is part of Attachment B to this Administrative Order, must be completed by the Probation Officer and submitted to the Court. The Probation Officer must use the matrix in Attachment A when completing the Technical Violation Notification form.
6. For any offender who decides to participate in the ASP, the Probation Officer and the offender must complete the “Alternative Sanctions Program Waiver of Formal VOP Hearing, Admission of Violation, and Acceptance of Sanctions” form, which is part of Attachment B to this Administrative Order, and submit it to the Court. By agreeing to proceed in the ASP, the offender waives the right to an evidentiary hearing on the violation of probation, including any determination that the violation was willful and substantial. If the offender chooses to participate in the ASP, the offender must admit the violation, accept the administrative sanction(s) recommended by the Probation Officer, and waive his/her right to a formal violation of probation proceeding in Circuit Court. The offender also must waive his/her right to appeal the sanction(s) imposed under the ASP unless the sanction(s) is/are illegal under State or Federal law.
7. Whether the ASP program is appropriate for a certain technical violation or an eligible offender is within the Court’s discretion. While the Probation Officer makes the initial determination of eligibility, judicial approval is required to participate in the ASP. In addition, the sanction(s) selected by the Probation Officer is/are within the Court’s discretion. Thus, the judge shall review the Notification and Waiver Form (Attachment B) and, if the judge agrees that the ASP is appropriate for the technical violation and the eligible offender and that the sanction(s) is/are appropriate, the judge will so indicate on an order in the format of the Order on Alternative Sanctions Program form, which is Attachment C to this Administrative Order. If the judge does not agree that the ASP program or the sanction(s) recommended by the Probation Officer is/are appropriate, the judge will so indicate on the order.
8. Upon Court approval, the Probation Officer will instruct the offender on the sanction(s) imposed by the Court and instruct the offender to take actions necessary to ensure the sanction(s) is/are executed immediately. If the offender fails to complete the imposed sanction(s), the Probation Officer must submit a violation report, affidavit, and warrant to the Court.
9. DOC will administer the ASP including compiling statistics, maintaining the necessary documents to demonstrate compliance with any funding requirements, and performing other case management functions as the Court requires.
10. Attachments to this Administrative Order may be modified without further changes to this Administrative Order.

Administrative Order 2016-012 PI-CIR is hereby rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, this ______ day of March 2016.

Attachment A:

Attachment B:

Attachment C:

ORIGINAL SIGNED ON MARCH 23, 2016 BY ANTHONY RONDOLINO, CHIEF JUDGE

Alternative Sanctions Program Violation/Sanction Matrix

Alternative Sanctions Program Technical Violation Notification and Offender’s Waiver of Formal VOP Hearing, Admission of Violation, and Acceptance of Sanctions

Order on Alternative Sanctions Program

cc: All Pinellas Judges

The Honorable Bernie McCabe, State Attorney

The Honorable Bob Dillinger, Public Defender

The Honorable Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pinellas County The Honorable Bob Gualtieri, Sheriff, Pinellas County

Gay Inskeep, Trial Courts Administrator

Ngozi Acholonu, Assistant Regional Counsel

Julie L. Jones, Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections

Bar Associations, Pasco and Pinellas Counties

Law Libraries, Pasco and Pinellas Counties

ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS PROGRAM VIOLATION/SANCTION MATRIX

Each technical violation includes a list of sanctions determined and approved by the court for the probation officer to select from when reporting these technical violations, based on the individual offender’s circumstances at the time of the violation.

VIOLATION | APPROVED LIST OF SANCTIONS

Condition (1): Reported late; failed to report as instructed

1. Report 2 times a month for 60 days
2. Mentoring evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
3. Weekly report for 45 days
4. Additional 25 hours public service work

Condition (3): Failed to report changes in residence or employment without first procuring the officer’s consent (or notifying immediately if evicted from residence or laid off from job)

1. Report 2 times a month for 60 days
2. Mentoring evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
3. Weekly report for 45 days
4. Additional 25 hours public service work

Condition (3): Failed to request permission prior to leaving the county

1. Report 2 times a month for 60 days
2. Mentoring evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
3. Weekly report for 45 days
4. Additional 25 hours public service work

Condition (6): Found to be associating with person(s) engaged in criminal activity

1. Additional 25 hours public service work
2. Mentoring evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
3. Curfew from 8 pm to 6 am for 90 days (can be modified by probation officer for treatment/work purposes.)
4. T4C – Cognitive Behavioral program

Condition (7): Positive drug test for non- prescribed drugs (first occurrence)

1. Drug evaluation and successfully complete treatment determined necessary
2. Increase level of treatment program up to and including residential
3. AA/NA – 1 x week for 60 days
4. Curfew from 8 pm to 6 am for 60 days (can be modified by probation officer for treatment/work purposes.)

Condition (7): Positive drug test for non- prescribed drugs (second occurrence)

1. Drug evaluation and successfully complete treatment determined necessary
2. Increase level of treatment program up to and including residential
3. AA/NA – 2 x week for 60 days
4. Curfew from 8 pm to 6 am for 120 days (can be modified by probation officer for treatment/work purposes.)
5. Additional 25 hours public service work

Condition (8): Failure to maintain employment

1. Employment evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
2. Weekly reporting with 20 job search logs until employed
3. Daily reporting with 5 job search logs until employed
4. Additional 25 hours public service work

Condition (10): Failure to pay restitution or court costs

1. Financial Assistance – Debt money mgmt.
2. Mentoring evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
3. Employment evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
4. Additional 25 hours public service work

Condition (11): Failure to submit to random testing as directed

1. Drug evaluation and successfully complete treatment determined necessary
2. Increase level of treatment program up to and including residential
3. AA/NA – 1 x week for 60 days
4. Curfew from 8 pm to 6 am for 60 days (can be modified by probation officer for treatment/work purposes.)
5. Additional 25 hours public service work

Special Condition (1): Failure to attend treatment evaluation or treatment session as scheduled

1. Weekly reporting until evaluation is completed
2. Daily call in until evaluation is completed
3. Mentoring evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
4. Additional 25 hours public service work

Special Condition (8): Failure to complete community service hours as instructed

1. Additional 25 hours public service work
2. Weekly reporting until community service hours are current
3. Mentoring evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary

Special Condition (9): Failure to remain at residence during curfew period

1. Mentoring evaluation and successfully complete as determined necessary
2. Report 2 times a month for 60 days
3. Weekly report for 45 days
4. Additional 25 hours public service work

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

IN AND FOR PINELLAS COUNTY

CRIMINAL DIVISION

STATE OF FLORIDA,

v.

[DEFENDANT NAME]

[NUMBER], Defendant.

Person ID:

CASE NO.:

UCN:

DIVISION:

ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS PROGRAM TECHNICAL VIOLATION NOTIFICATION

Original Charge: ______________________________________

Term of Supervision: ______________ to __________________

Offender Eligible: Yes No

Date of Violation(s): ____________________

First Violation Second Violation Technical violation that occurred: _______________________________________________________

Sanction to be imposed in the discretion of the Court: _______________________________________

OFFENDER’S WAIVER OF FORMAL VOP HEARING, ADMISSION OF VIOLATION, AND ACCEPTANCE OF SANCTIONS

By signing below, I understand that I have the right to a formal violation of probation hearing before the Court; however, I am agreeing to waive this right along with waiving the following rights to:

1. be represented by legal counsel, and the right to have one appointed if I cannot afford one;
2. subpoena and present witnesses and evidence in my defense and to present any defense I might have to the judge;
3. see and hear witnesses testify and to confront and cross-examine the witnesses against me;
4. require the State to prove that I have willfully violated my probation by the greater weight of the evidence; and
5. appeal all matters except the legality of my sentence.

No one has coerced me, pressured me, made any threats against me, or promised me anything to convince me to give up these rights.

I am agreeing to voluntarily participate in the Alternative Sanctions Program. I am admitting to the technical violation(s) of probation listed above with the understanding that I will be required to complete the additional sanction(s) listed above, as part of my probation.

I further understand that if I fail to complete the additional sanction(s) within the time specified, a formal violation of probation action will be forwarded to the court and this form may be introduced into evidence at a subsequent hearing to establish the violation(s). I understand that if the court determines I have violated my probation, I may be sentenced as authorized by law.

I understand the court reserves the right to accept or reject my request to participate in the Alternative Sanctions Program.

_______________________________ Offender Signature/Date

_______________________________ Typed/Printed Name

_______________________________________ Officer Signature/Date

_______________________________________ Typed/Printed Name & Telephone Number

_______________________________________ Supervisor Signature/Date

Sixth Circuit Administrative Order 2016-017 – Attachment B

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

IN AND FOR PINELLAS COUNTY

CRIMINAL DIVISION

STATE OF FLORIDA,

v.

[DEFENDANT NAME],

Defendant.

CASE NO.:

UCN:

DIVISION:

ORDER ON ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS PROGRAM

It appears that the defendant has materially violated one or more conditions of probation but has not committed a new law violation and is otherwise eligible to participate in the Alternative Sanctions Program.

______The Court has reviewed the Alternative Sanctions Program Technical Violation Notification Form, a copy of which is attached, and approves participation in the Alternative Sanctions Program and the sanction(s) selected. As a condition of the defendant’s supervision, the defendant shall complete the sanction(s) selected. The Department of Corrections is directed to forward a violation of probation report and warrant to the Court in the event the defendant fails to satisfactorily complete the sanction(s) selected.

OR

______The Court has reviewed the Alternative Sanctions Program Technical Violation Notification Form, a copy of which is attached, and approves participation in the Alternative Sanctions Program; however, the Court does not approve the sanction(s) selected by the probation officer. Accordingly, the Court orders the following sanction(s) to be imposed: _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________.

OR

______The Court has reviewed the Alternative Sanctions Program Technical Violation Notification Form, does not approve the use of the Alternative Sanctions Program, and directs the Department of Corrections to submit a Violation Report, Affidavit, and Warrant to address this alleged violation.

DONE AND ORDERED at Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, this _____ day of ___________________, 20_____.

____________________________________ CIRCUIT JUDGE

Sixth Circuit Administrative Order 2016-017 – Attachment C

Additional Resources

Alternative Sanctions Program in Pinellas County – Find ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2016-017 PI-CIR to learn more about the Felony Probation Alternative Sanctions Program (“ASP”) through collaboration between the Sixth Judicial Circuit (“the Court”) and the Florida Department of Corrections (“DOC”). The ASP was created pursuant to Article V, section 2, Florida Constitution, Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215, and section 43.26, Florida Statutes. Find out more about the Technical Violation Notification.