Specialty courts in Midland County (Mich.)
In addition, Midland courts offers MiHOPE, an acronym for Midland County Honest Opportunity Probation with Enforcement. It is part of a Michigan Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program in Michigan.
The prison diversion program began in December of 2015 with five probationers and now has more than 40 probationers in the Midland program. It combines rehabilitation, close supervision and immediate and consistent enforcement rules.
The five-year intensive probation program targets high-risk felony offenders, often with a history of probation violations or failing to complete traditional probation. Each time someone is sentenced to MiHope, Carras talks to them, laying down what is expected of them. He ensures they know what they are walking into.
MiHOPE offers offenders a chance—often a final one—to avoid prison. If the participant can be safely and effectively be monitored in the community without endangering themselves or the public. Common requirements of the program include residential treatment, individual and group counseling, frequent drug tests and a curfew.
A probationer can complete probation early by remaining violation free for two years
