Life Employment and Skills Program (LESP)

LESP Program allows for a time cut for people sentenced to jail in Oakland County. LESP is one of several programs savvy defense lawyers can use to reduce their client’s jail sentences.

LESP is Available for Felony and Misdemeanor Cases

LESP, or the Life Employment and Skills Program, is designed for felony and misdemeanor offenders who are in custody in Oakland County. The requirement is that the offender must have past criminal conduct and a history of substance abuse. There must also be a willingness to work on these issues and themselves. Completing the program will give inmates a 25% time cut in their Oakland County jail sentence.

LESP Program for felony offenders:

New people are admitted to the program every week. There are group meetings for six (6) weeks, and basic thinking skills are taught. Offenders are challenged to examine how they think and believe and their value system. The focus is on introducing new ways of thinking, self-control, positive change, understanding thinking distortion and criminal thought patterns, participation and exercises, and completing homework. To participate in the program, a person must meet PA 511 eligibility, and there is no cost to the offender.

LESP for misdemeanor offenders:

A misdemeanor offender must be sentenced to at least 60 days of incarceration and have no assaultive crimes on their record to qualify for LESP. There is no cost to the offender. The LESP program is four one-week sessions presented in a group setting, which meets daily over four weeks for a minimum of twenty 90-minute sessions. The focus is on changing thinking and values. Also, there is a focus on the following:

self-change with attitudes toward alcohol and substance abuse,
criminal thought processes,
consequences of actions, and
information is given regarding services available in the community.

Other Alternatives to Jail in Oakland County

The Oakland County Circuit Court in Michigan provides a range of alternatives to jail for certain types of offenses or for individuals who meet specific criteria. Some of the other alternatives to jail in Oakland County include:

Probation: Probation is a common alternative to jail time in Oakland County Circuit Court. It is a court-ordered period of supervision during which an individual must comply with probation conditions such as drug testing, community service, and regular check-ins with a probation officer.

Drug Court: Drug court is a specialized program to help individuals with drug addiction issues. It combines intensive drug treatment and rehabilitation services with close court supervision and monitoring. Individuals in drug court must attend regular court hearings, comply with treatment requirements, and submit to frequent drug testing.

Mental Health Court: The Mental Health Court is a specialized program to help individuals with mental health issues. It combines intensive mental health treatment and rehabilitation services with close court supervision and monitoring. Individuals in mental health court must attend regular court hearings, comply with treatment requirements, and submit to regular mental health evaluations.

Work Release Programs: Work release programs allow individuals to continue working while serving their sentence. These programs may require individuals to check in daily or enable individuals to leave jail during the day to go to work and return at night. In Oakland County, the work release program permits participants to live at home and monitors them with a GPS tether.

Electronic Monitoring: Electronic monitoring involves using an ankle bracelet to monitor an individual’s whereabouts. Electronic monitoring allows individuals to remain in their homes or communities while serving their sentence.

Community Service: Judges may order community service as an alternative to jail time for certain offenses. Community service involves completing a certain number of hours of volunteer work to make amends for the crime.

It is important to note that the availability of these alternatives may vary depending on the offense, the individual’s criminal history, and other factors. The decision to use an alternative to jail ultimately rests with the judge overseeing the case.

Criminal Defense Attorney in Oakland County, Michigan

An inmate’s acceptance and ability to participate in the LESP program are not guaranteed. Due to the time cut, LESP is a popular program. A sentencing court must agree to an inmate’s participation. If you are facing a possible period of incarceration, it is essential that you have a highly experienced criminal defense attorney who understands how to make a persuasive argument to a judge to get the court to grant LESP or any other program. The Oakland County criminal defense attorneys with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. have successfully convinced judges across Michigan to allow clients to participate in all sorts of programs that are either alternatives to incarceration or grant a reduction in a sentence of incarceration for participation.

You need the best legal help available when your freedom is at stake. It is not the time to pinch pennies. The attorneys with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. are some of Michigan’s best and most successful criminal defense lawyers. Call us for a free consultation. We are here to help, and we are not afraid to win.

Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete an online Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.