Alternatives to Incarceration: Bridges Program
Overview
| Background | Bridges' Goals
| Participants | Criteria | Terms
& Conditions | Benefits | More
Information
Bridges is a day treatment
program that provides intensive drug and alcohol treatment, educational/vocational
training and cognitive learning.
This effort works toward
ending the cycle of drug abuse and crime.
You can contact the Bridges
staff at 650-599-7336.Top of this page
Background:
Spearheaded by Superior
Court Judges George A. Miram, Marta S. Diaz, Mark R. Forcum, Carl W. Holm, and
Margaret J. Kemp, Bridges represents a county-wide collaboration that works
to slow the cycle of drug use and crime. A committee
was formed to create a program that would make a difference in the lives of
addicted offenders who had given up hope. Top of this page
Restore Lives: Provide
treatment and training for eligible offenders with
addiction-related criminal histories
Reduce Crime:
Lower recidivism among target populations
Save Money and Resources:
Reduce jail
overcrowding
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Non-violent offenders
with offenses that are directly or indirectly related to alcohol and drug
dependency problems
Defendants are identified
during special in-custody, pre-trial hearings and by the Probation Department
Defendants must fit criteria
(below) for acceptance into Bridges
Top of this page
Eligible Ineligible
Drug Possession
Second or third strike
cases
Petty theft with priors
Violent offenders
Driving with suspended
license
Possession for sale
Probation violation
Gang members
Other nonviolent, drug
related offenses
Psychiatric or psychological
disorders
Drunk driving cases
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Attend court sessions
on a regular basis (regular appearances for status reports
Waive jail credit while
in the program
Abide by rules of program,
conditions of probation and all law.
Comply with curfew
Abstain from drugs and
alcohol
Submit to search and
seizure without warrant or probable cause
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To the criminal justice
system :
To the community
Program participants
become productive community members that contribute to society
Tax savings due to
lowered rates of incarceration
Less risk of victimization
To the participants and
their families
Substance treatment
Educational and/or
vocation training
Participants receive
the support necessary to turn their lives around
Family ties, once broken
by the betrayal addiction, are reestablished
Top of this page
More information about the
Bridges Program can be found by clicking on the following links:
Committee
& Collaborators
