Marathon County offers a variety of diversion programs designed to reduce recidivism and jail overcrowding.  The following is a brief description of the programs available through the Justice Alternatives Office.

For more information, contact the Justice Alternatives Office at 715-261-1191.

Assessment

Defendants entering the criminal justice system are offered a screening to determine to what extent alcohol, drugs and mental health issues are contributing to their criminality. This screens aids in determining eligibility for diversion programs and appropriateness for treatment and/or supervision services designed to reduce recidivism.

Community Service

Defendants may perform community service to work off fines, in lieu of jail time, as part of a court ordered sentence, as a consequence for violating probation rules, or as a program requirement for a court diversion case plan.  Community service is provided to a number of sites throughout Marathon County.  All sites must be either non-profit or a governmental agency. The type of services provided varies depending on the needs of the site sponsor.  There are four supervised work crews per week for a total of 18 hours of crew per week.

Educational Groups

• Cognitive Interventions - Participants learn about criminal thinking patterns, slowing down the thought process and identifying errors in their thinking.  Groups are 1 1/2 hours long for 10 weeks.
• Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse - Participants learn about the effects and dangers of alcohol and drug use and abuse.  Groups are 1 1/2 hours per week for 10 weeks.

Day Report

Defendants report for alcohol and drug testing, job searches and in person reporting.  Urinalysis and breath testing is conducted up to 7 days a week , two times per day using a random color code call in system.

Diversion

This program targets low/moderate risk defendants.  If the defendant agrees to successfully complete customized diversion agreements that address their needs, they are afforded the opportunity to avoid criminal charges and/or conviction.  The goal is to address the defendant's needs and reduce the likelihood of recidivism.  Either a Deferred prosecution agreement or a deferred entry of judgment agreement may be offered through the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office.  Assessments and case planning are provided through the Justice Programs Office.  The Diversion Case Manager recommends and monitors deferred prosecution and deferred entry of judgment agreements and communicates with the District Attorney's Office as to the defendant's progress.

Domestic Violence (Volunteer in Probation)

This program serves defendants with first time minimal level domestic related/disorderly conduct charges. Upon assessment for appropriateness defendants voluntarily enroll in the program in which the District Attorney’s  enters a Deferred Entry of Judgment agreement.  Charges are reduced or dropped upon successful completion and discharge from an approved treatment program.  Defendants are monitored for program completion by a Justice Programs case manager.

Justice Volunteer in Probation

This program serves defendants facing low-level first-time misdemeanor offenses.  Upon assessment and determination of appropriateness for the program offenders enter a plea of guilty or no contest and a Deferred Entry of Judgment is placed on them.  During the program participants are provided case management, educational groups, individual or group counseling, community service or Day Report based on their assessed needs.  Upon successful completion of the program, the charges against the defendant will be reduced or dismissed. 

SSTOP- Safe Streets Treatment Options Program

This program targets defendants with multiple Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), Operating after Revocation (OAR) or Operating after Suspension offenses.  Referrals are sent to Justice Programs as a condition of bond.  Participation in the program is voluntary.  The goal of this program is to reduce recidivism by having repeat offenders begin treatment more quickly and reduce taxpayer costs related to criminal prosecution and incarceration.  This is accomplished through pre-trial and post sentence supervision and case management, educational groups, and early referral/participation in assessment and formal treatment.  Offenders who volunteer to participate in assessment and treatment prior to conviction receive a reduction in jail days sentenced. 

Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) Treatment Court

OWI Treatment Court serves defendants with impaired driving-related offenses who are facing significant incarceration time.  Program completion is a condition of probation in lieu of incarceration.  The treatment court follows the National Drug Court model and is an evidenced based program in which treatment and accountability work together to reduce recidivism.  It serves up to 25 participants at a time and lasts a minimum of one year.  Participants receive intensive counseling, community supervision and support from a team of professional within the criminal justice system.  The program focuses on rewarding positive behavior and providing immediate consequences for violations of program rules.  

Drug Treatment Court

Drug Treatment Court serves defendants with drug related offenses who are facing significant incarceration time.  Program completion is a condition of probation in lieu of incarceration.  The treatment court follows the National Drug Court model and is an evidenced based program in which treatment and accountability work together to reduce recidivism.  It serves up to 25 participants at a time and lasts a minimum of fourteen months.  Participants receive intensive counseling, community supervision and support from a team of professional within the criminal justice system.  The program focuses on rewarding positive behavior and providing immediate consequences for violations of program rules.  

Case Management and Treatment Services - CMTS

This program is a joint service provided by Marathon County Justice Programs and the Wisconsin Department of Community Corrections and serves medium/high risk and high need offenders in the community.  Services include assessment, case management, educational and independent living groups as well as individual and group therapy for mental health and substance use.  Treatment curriculums are cognitive behavioral based and focus on criminogenic needs of the participants.  Dosage hours are assessed and provided based on individual risk and need scores.  This is an intensive outpatient program that receives referrals from the Justice Programs and the Wisconsin Department of Community Corrections. 

Marathon County Pretrial Program

The Marathon County Pretrial Assessor completes a Public Safety Assessment (PSA) on all in custody defendants prior to their initial appearance.  Assessment outcomes are shared with the courts to aid in the setting of bond conditions.  Defendants released to the community on bond may be required to participate in pretrial services based on their assessed risk.  The pretrial services program provides supervision to the defendant and assures compliance with pretrial bond conditions imposed by the courts.  Supervision may include court reminders, phone and in person case management meetings and drug testing when appropriate.  Pretrial case managers update the courts on compliance with bond conditions.  The goal of the program is to maximize court appearance rates, maximize public safety and maximize pretrial release rates.