SEPTA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

Offender Eligibility Criteria

No Offender shall be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race,disability, creed, national origin, or political views. (These criteria are established by State law (Section 2301.52, Ohio Revised Code.) The following individuals will not be considered for acceptance into the program: A dangerous offender is a Person who has committed an offense whose history, character, and condition reveal a substantial risk that he will be a danger to others, and whose conduct has been characterized by a pattern of repetitive, compulsive, or aggressive behavior with heedless indifference to the consequences. This does not exclude those who have been charged or convicted of violent offenses, but those whose behavior pattern is such that they frequently resort to violence.

1. Essential eligibility requirements
   1. Must be an adult male (age 18 or older)
   2. A felony offender who: is not required to serve a mandatory prison term, may be eligible for judicial release (2929.20), has failed a lesser community sanction, or has failed treatment in lieu of conviction.
   3. Must be ambulatory, emotionally stable, and capable of fully participating, comprehending, and engaging in the standard program;
   4. Must be placed on community control supervision for purposes of SEPTA residency;
   5. In order for offenders to be supervised by the Adult Parole Authority (APA), the court must include “basic supervision” as a sanction in addition to SEPTA;
   6. That the offender freely admits to involvement in the criminal activity for which he has been charged;
2. Factors excluding admission to SEPTA:
   1. Any of the following offenses:
      1. Aggravated Murder (2903.01) or murder (2903.02);
      2. Rape (2907.02) or Felonious Sexual Penetration (2907.12);
      3. All crimes other than CCW committed while offender was armed with firearm or dangerous ordnance (as defined by 2923.11);
      4. Firearm or dangerous ordnance (as defined by 2923.11) aboard an aircraft;
      5. Voluntary Manslaughter (2903.03); Involuntary Manslaughter (2903.04); Kidnapping (2905.01); Aggravated Arson (2909.02); Aggravated Robbery (2911.01);
      6. Anyone placed on Post-Release Control;
      7. Offenders with pending charges will not be eligible until the disposition is known;
      8. An individual requiring medically supervised detoxification or long term chemical dependency treatment (i.e. more than 6 months);
      9. Physical, intellectual, or mental health disability or impairments where reasonable modifications of policies, practices, or procedures and/or provision of auxiliary aids, will not mitigate the risk of a direct threat to the health or safety of others or preclude active participation in the program. This decision will be based on objective criteria generated during the screening process .
      10. Offenders who cannot independently perform activities of self-care (e.g., bathing, dressing, eliminating, independently);
      11. Offenders who are actively psychotic at time of sentencing, screening, or intake to the facility;
      12. Offenders who are seriously emotionally disturbed unless:
          1. The condition is controlled by medication so as to permit full participation in the SEPTA Program;
          2. The offender agrees in writing to be responsible for complying with medication and dietary regimen as prescribed or recommended by treating physician;
          3. The offender is responsible for the cost of any continuing medication, treatment or testing.
3. Formal referrals must be made by the sentencing judge: Direct referrals to SEPTA Intake Officer, Monday - Friday, excluding holidays, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
   1. A SEPTA Referral Form can be completed and faxed to (740) 753-4614, Attention: Intake Officer;
   2. Information from the Referral Form can be telephoned to SEPTA at (740) 753-5000, Intake Officer/designee.
4. Interview and Evaluation:
   1. Upon receipt of a referral, an interview with the individual will be arranged by the SEPTA Intake Officer;
   2. The SEPTA program shall be explained to the referral including rules and expectations and he will be asked to sign a form indicating his desire to participate. His interest in the program will be a factor for recommendation for acceptance;
   3. Any referral refusing to sign shall be determined inappropriate for admission and the referral source shall be notified of this in writing. The court may consider the offender’s refusal to participate in determining that the offender is not amenable to an available community control sanction;
   4. A Presentence Investigation Report (PSI) will be performed by the Adult Parole Authority on any referral to SEPTA. For information verification, the intake officer will request the PSI from the supervising agency. Verifying information from other appropriate sources shall be obtained via a signed Release of Information Form by the offender.
5. Screening:
   1. The Intake Officer shall prepare the recommendation report;
   2. The case shall be referred to the Executive Director for a final decision;
   3. The sentencing judge shall receive a written Intake Summary recommendation from the Intake Officer which shall state whether a referral is appropriate or inappropriate for SEPTA Correctional Facility;
   4. If the referral is found ineligible by the Intake Officer/Executive Director’s decision or the Court’s Judgement, this will result in the individual not being able to be admitted to the SEPTA Correctional Facility, and the case will be closed on that specific referral.
6. Coordination of Admission
   If the SEPTA Intake Officer/Executive Director establishes eligibility and the court of jurisdiction finds SEPTA to be an appropriate sentencing alternative for the referral, the Intake Officer shall begin coordination of admission procedures.