SB 5960 - DIGEST

     Declares that the intended purposes of this act, the community justice act, are to:  (1) Create a mechanism to encourage local community control of community corrections programs;

     (2) assist local government in developing community-based correctional programs that meet local community needs for safety, punishment, accountability, treatment, and resources;

     (3) encourage the use of a range of community-based correctional strategies;

     (4) introduce restorative justice concepts to encourage more frequent opportunities to repair the victim, community, and offender through the sentencing process;

     (5) encourage active participation by victims and the community in community-based correctional programs;

     (6) hold the offender accountable; and

     (7) reduce the likelihood of future criminal behavior.