Monitoring and frequent contact appear critical to the success of ISPs. ISP programs use several interventions, which can include alcohol abuse treatment, ignition interlocks, home detention, victim impact panels, and community supervision. An average duration of the program is four to five months, and may be followed by a period of normal probation. A Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, program that often is identified as an ISP uses pretrial treatment and frequent, regular monitoring for repeat offenders prior to conviction. Because the length of time from arrest to conviction can be as much as nine months, the program is designed to provide early intervention.
Participation is voluntary and offers offenders hope of a reduced jail sentence.
The Milwaukee County ISP program is an alternative to incarceration, not because it eliminates jail time entirely, but because it reduces jail time. ISPs are used in a number of states, including Kansas, Delaware, and Nebraska. In Kansas, the program is conducted at the county level for some repeat offenders. Offenders in this program would otherwise face incarceration in a state penitentiary at significantly higher expense. Testing, electronic monitoring, and community service are part of the program, which calls for treatment sessions three times a week for 30 days, followed by a risk assessment that determines whether the offender will continue treatment two times a week, once every two weeks, or once a month.