For justice-involved Veterans, participation in the Veterans Alternative Sentencing Program, must be approved by a corrections administrator. Upon approval, the Veteran is released to participate in the program without criminal custodial requirements. At the end of the year, the corrections administrator reviews his/her record and, assuming it complies with the required expectations, the participant is placed on full probation.
Learn MoreVeterans Alternative Sentencing Program(VASP) is the answer to the current corrections dilemma and that is: (1) the corrections departments are required to house a high percentage of non-violent participants whose biggest threat to security is their potential inability to reintegrate successfully into the current work structure and social fabric of society, (2) the number of such participants increases each year, along with the cost to maintain them, (3) there is no existing structure prepared to receive and gradually reintegrate the participant, and (4) releasing them without structured programs will likely not reduce recidivism and will, in many cases, create a negative public reaction. Designed to work with state corrections departments to trim budgetary inefficiencies, by placing proven performers on an accelerated track to rebuilding their lives, while saving taxpayers unnecessary “warehousing” dollars.
Although there are many community-based assistance programs with voluntary supervision, no one but the Veterans Alternative Sentencing Program has stepped up to help form a true public/private partnership that addresses this strategy head on and in its entirety. The Veterans Alternative Sentencing Program provides courses and consulting designed to help the participant change his behavior through a growing sense of self-worth. During the year in the Veterans Alternative Sentencing Program, the participant is continuously under the supervision of The O.V.A.L Program and its staff. The Veterans Alternative Sentencing Program provides shelter, clothes, meals, transportation and 24 hour supervision for the participant while in the program. In addition, The O.V.A.L Program will also provide the participant with job and career development support. The participant is required to give back to his/her support group that has underwritten the participant’s cost of participation in The O.V.A.L Program. Upon successful completion of the one-year program, referred to as Phase I, the graduate over the next 5 years will receive assistance in: Accessing Mental/Physical Health Services Career Development Job Placement Services Accreditation Programs Financial Literacy / Money Management Rehousing Program Workshops
Veterans Alternative Sentencing Program is a facility-based program where early release participants will be brought to live for a one-year period. During that year, they will be supervised on a 24/7 basis. They will live in dormitory suites or share apartments, depending on whether they are assigned to city or farm work. Like The O.V.A.L Veterans Reintegration Program, the VASP program is a full life restoration program. The goal is to assist each program participant in restructuring their lives to a position of productivity and self-satisfaction as they reintegrate with society. Veterans Alternative Sentencing Program is a public/private partnership between the state and The O.V.A.L Program. The state, through its Department of Corrections and Legislature, establishes rules of eligibility for early release participants. The O.V.A.L Program confers with the DOC to determine how many participants are to be released on what specific dates. A full background file is required on each candidate. The participant must choose The Veterans Alternative Sentencing Program and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of participation as required by Early Release Rules and Regulations. The year-long program will include a 40 hr work week along with evening and weekend classes. The same core model of personal development is utilized in all the O.V.A.L Program Tracts, including recreation, physical training, family time, spiritual development and Sunday religious services or meditative practice. A general agreement will be negotiated between the State Department of Corrections and The O.V.A.L Program. The agreement will include the pre-evaluation process and preparatory classes to be established onsite at correctional facilities to identify and prepare VASP participants. In addition, a “stipend” provided by the State to help defray the cost of services provided by The O.V.A.L Program.