An Overview of Michigan’s Efforts in Combating the Opioid Epidemic

Programs Within the MDOC and Judiciary
The Substance Abuse Parole Certain Sanctions Program (SSSPP), formerly known as the Parole Sanction Certainty Program, was created as a pilot in 2016 initially targeting parole violators with a history of opioid and/or methamphetamine substance use disorders. Similar to the Swift and Sure program for probationers, the SSSPP aims to reduce supervision violations with immediate, short-term sanctions, such as substance abuse or mental health treatment, counseling, community service, or short-term incarceration. The Program was expanded in 2017 when the Parole Sanction Certainty Act was signed into law. The Act establishes a defined system for applying sanctions, standards on informing a supervised individual of his or her conditions and expectations, and it requires the MDOC to implement the Program in additional counties with the most individuals convicted of criminal violations and 10 subsequently sentenced to incarceration. Funds are distributed to accredited rehabilitation organizations that provide treatment services to parole violators.