EXPANDING SENTENCING MITIGATION PROGRAMS

The Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) is a nonprofit agency that provides research, training, and direct services in the fields of criminal and juvenile justice and related human services. Since 1981, CCA has worked with attorneys and courts to develop comprehensive sentencing proposals for consideration on behalf of individual defendants. Sentencing mitigation-one of the services CCA offers-involves researching a defendant's background, such as family and medical history, to provide additional consideration for juries. CCA engaged a Capstone team in conducting a feasibility study to expand the organization's sentencing mitigation services from New York City to the tri-state area. The Capstone team performed a literature review, conducted research on the demand and potential for CCA's services, and interviewed attorneys and other professionals in the field. The final report provided context to expand CCA's sentencing mitigation program and included a financial model.