Henderson’s Alternative Sentencing Department an effort to rehabilitate offenders

As Henderson Municipal Court handles traffic and misdemeanor cases within its jurisdiction, offenders can be ordered to pay fines, complete community service or sentenced to jail.

But in an attempt to help rehabilitate those charged, the city of Henderson created its Alternative Sentencing Department about six years ago, according to Ian Massy, chief of the department.

“Alternative sentencing is the concept of community supervision, which is a fancier word for probation,” Massy said. “It gives offenders a chance to rehabilitate in lieu of being incarcerated solely for their offense.

“About 40 percent of our cases are domestic battery-related; 40 percent are DUIs, whether it’s drug or alcohol; and the other 20 percent comes from possession of drug paraphernalia, petty larceny, protection order violations and other various charges.”

The department includes a programs unit, an assessment/counseling unit, an enforcement unit and a community service/work program.

Other programs include anger management, parenting classes, victim impact panel information, DUI school and traffic safety school. Counseling is available for individuals suffering from domestic violence or substance abuse, and the department provides chemical dependency assessments.

The department also oversees individuals under house arrest and monitors alcohol and drug use through random testing and electronic bracelets.

“One of the larger programs we operate is our work program,” Massy said. “If you receive a fine as part of a criminal sentence, and you don’t have a way to pay for it, there’s a statute that allows and requires the municipality to have a way for individuals to work off their fine.”

Through the program, individuals work off their fine at a rate of $10 per hour by painting block walls, maintaining trail landscapes, picking up trash after events, working with code enforcement to clean the exterior of foreclosed homes and other Henderson-related projects.

A lower-level fine might require 10 to 12 hours of work whereas a more serious offense or a multitude of violations might require upward of 200 hours, according to Massy.

“Our work program is also different from community service,” he said. “In general, community service is a punishment that goes along with a criminal offense. It can be completed by volunteering at any nonprofit, organization or agency.

“The work program is generally used to satisfy the fines that are assessed with criminal offenses, but you could also enroll in the work program to fulfill any community service requirements as well.”

In addition, the department works alongside the city’s specialty courts, which serve as problem-solving programs designed to help break the cycle of substance abuse, criminal activity and juvenile delinquent behavior. Alternative Sentencing helps enforce and ensure participants are in compliance with court requirements.

“Henderson’s Alternative Sentencing Department plays an important part on getting people back on the correct path,” said Henderson Municipal Court Chief Judge Mark Stevens. “The alternative sentencing officers not only hold people accountable in a respectful way, but the work that is done by the participants helps make our city a better place.”

As participants receive the counseling and support they need, Massy said alternative sentencing also benefits the courts, city and general population.

“For the city and the general public, we provide a public safety aspect. For the courts, it reduces the amount of time staff prepare and work on certain cases,” he said. “This is a program that would have cost a lot more had we not been here, and we’re providing additional services to the community.”

Despite being used mostly by offenders, the department’s programs, such as DUI or traffic safety school, are open to the public. Fees vary.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com/alternative-sentencing.

To reach Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher, email cbelcher@viewnews.com or call 702-383-0403. Find her on twitter: @caitlynbelcher.