The 17th District Court Probation Department is composed of four full time probation officers, eight volunteer probation officers and two secretaries. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Probation Officers have continued to explore various pro-active means of effectively dealing with defendants convicted on misdemeanor charges. The Same Day Sentencing Program remains an efficient tool in reducing the time between acceptance of a plea and sentencing in gun, drug, alcohol, retail fraud, and domestic violence cases. Swift justice and timely referrals for defendants have been ensured with no loss of integrity or availability of information to the judges.

In 1999, the Probation Officers conducted 516 alcohol screenings/pre sentence investigations. Both the alcohol screenings and pre sentence investigations include a written questionnaire which is completed by the defendant. This questionnaire (NEEDS assessment) is then scored through a computer program approved by the State of Michigan - Department of Substance Abuse. The final step is an individual interview with one of the probation officers. Using all of the data, the assessment process is concluded with a written recommendation. All four of the probation officers have met the State's certification requirement that includes forty hours of approved continuing education programs every two years.

The Probation Department handles approximately 1500 cases with most defendants reporting once a month. The Probation staff monitors such areas as employment, new criminal activity, drug and alcohol use, counseling and AA/NA attendance.

The following is a list of some of the programs that are utilized by the 17th District Court:

• R.E.A.D. Program - This program targets illiterate and undereducated defendants recognizing that the lack of basic literacy skills often contributes to unemployment and sometimes criminal activity. With this in mind, this program works to improve literacy levels, develop self esteem positively affecting economic and social situations thus reducing recidivism.
  
  
• Transformation and Development Program - This program is designed to assist youthful offenders, between the ages of 17 and 21 improve their self esteem. This ten-week program meets on Wednesday evenings, at the Redford Library. Jason Bruce, one of the Probation Officers, conducts this free program.
  
  
• Victim Impact Program - Originally this program was designed by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), where individuals convicted on an alcohol related offense listen to victims or family members of victims convey ways in which alcohol has affected their lives. In addition, probationers must view an educational video that stresses the consequences of driving while intoxicated. Probationers must attend at least one session during the first two months of their probation term.
  
  
• Work Program - The Redford Township Work Program is used as a sentencing alternative which is targeted at assigning nonviolent offenders who may face undue hardship if sent to jail for an extended period of time. Probationers are assigned for a specific number of days to perform tasks including removing debris from the shoulders of township roads, repainting graffiti stained building and bridges, working at the ice arena, or maintaining areas around baseball fields and golf courses. Probationers are assessed $30 for each day they are assigned to the Work Program, which covers the cost of supervision and insurance.
  
  
• Daily P.B.T. - The Probation Department staff conduct daily Preliminary Breath Tests for defendants who have been ordered to submit to alcohol testing. These tests are conducted Monday through Friday at the court and on the weekends through the J.A.M.S. program.
  
  
• Tether - The tether is an electronic monitoring device that is used to place people under house arrest. The defendant can only leave their home during specified hours for work, counseling and AA/NA meetings.
  
  
• Alcohol Tether - The alcohol tether not only requires the defendant to remain under house arrest during non-working hours but, also requires them to blow into a machine that will measure their alcohol level.
  
  
• Domestic Violence Tether - This tether is installed in the victim's home and the defendant is required to wear an ankle band. If the defendant goes anywhere near the victim's home, the tether unit will send a signal to the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. The police will immediately be dispatched to the victim's home and the defendant can be arrested.

The 17th District Court has implemented an in-service training program for its volunteer probation officers. We recognize that it is important for volunteers to receive training in order to improve their effectiveness and understanding. We will continue to host ongoing, highly effective training programs to ensure that our volunteers are well prepared and appropriately informed on relevant subjects.