Brooke Howard
350 S. Center St., Suite 101
Reno, NV 89501
Main Phone: (775) 785-4244
Washoe County Sheriff’s Office
Alternatives to Incarceration (A.I.U)
A.I.U. is comprised of The Sheriff’s Community Work Program (S.C.W.P.), Inmate Work Programs, and Jail Counseling Programs. |
Alternative Sentencing is a sentencing program that is an alternative to jail. The Alternative Sentencing Program diverts offenders away from costly incarceration, and offers a second chance to those who have committed less serious offenses. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office’s Alternatives to Incarceration Unit is responsible for screening defendants for eligibility, managing defendants while participating in any of the diversion programs and managing several programs for inmates who are incarcerated in the Detention Facility.
Defendants may be sentenced directly to a program by the Judge, be screened for eligibility by AIU or may fall into the category of possible early release due to jail overcrowding. That number averages well over 1200 active participants/inmates daily. AIU not only qualifies and releases inmates; they oversee all activity in order to assure a very high success rate.
Who is eligible for Alternative Sentencing?
The defendants who have not committed the ‘worst' crimes and do not have a mandatory sentence imposed on them - Defendants who have not committed numerous crimes
- Defendants who have not committed a serious felony, with or without the use of a weapon
- Defendants who do not pose a risk to themselves or the community
The Alternatives to Incarceration Unit also partners and participates in numerous county outreach programs and is a drop-off site for donations of new or gently used items. Donations are welcomed throughout the year. The following new and gently used items are in need:
- Clothing for children and tweens, including coats, hats, and gloves
- Backpacks and school supplies
- Toys of all kinds for all ages
- Games and books for teens and tweens
- Stocking stuffers
- Gift cards
- Shampoo, toothpaste, soaps, toothbrushes
- Monetary donations
- Books on CD, puzzles, paint by number sets, slippers, lap blankets, and anything else that would be appreciated by seniors.
Items are given to different charities and families in need throughout the year.
Christmas on the Corridor (4th Street Christmas Parade) provided over 6,000 Christmas bags and toys to children in the motel district of 4th, 5th and 6th Streets along with the Denslow, Trainer and Pat Baker park areas.
The Sheriff’s Office also participated in the second annual Day of Change Taking it to the Streets Event; hosted by community members. The Sheriff’s Office donated school supplies, backpacks, and deputies manned a booth where they answered questions from the public.
