The North Country Academy is a yearlong, intensive and comprehensive program of both punishment and rehabilitation designed to supplement or replace incarceration in the first instance. The Academy's goals are defined as follows:

• To provide a comprehensive self-directed, self-improvement plan for eligible offenders that requires them to take responsibility for their offense and their rehabilitation.
• To establish a comprehensive self-improvement program composed of already existing, locally available programs, courses and other resources.
• To establish an intensive and comprehensive self-improvement program for eligible offenders that protects and enhances the community, is cost-effective and will partially or totally supplant incarceration.
• To provide support and direction during the term of probation by providing opportunities for the offender to develop alternative coping mechanisms and ultimately a responsible and productive lifestyle.
• To protect the community by compelling rehabilitation and promptly incarcerating offenders who fail to comply with the requirement of the program.

An offender seeking admission to the North Country Academy is assigned a case manager who assists the offender with the admission process and follows his/her progress. The case manager has the offender assessed educationally, vocationally, psychologically and for substance abuse. From these evaluations, the individualized self-improvement plan (ISIP) is developed by the case manager and agreed to by the offender. If the offender doesn't agree to the program set out by the case manager, he/she does not qualify for the academy.

The ISIP contains a demanding set of requirements designed to equip the offender for a productive and law abiding life. If needed, the participant is required to satisfactorily complete a core curriculum of living skills courses on such topics as parenting, stress management, money management and nutrition. If employed, the participant must maintain his/her job. If unemployed, the participant must complete a job search workshop and make a certain number of good faith job searches a day. Additionally, depending on need and ability, a participant is required to satisfactorily complete counseling and/or a variety of educational and vocational courses offered in the community within certain time requirements.

The North Country Academy substance abuse component requires the participant to attend weekly group counseling sessions and a certain number of Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous meetings per week, refrain from any use of alcohol or drugs and submit to random drug and alcohol screens.

North Country Academy Program applicants are referred through their defense counsel. There is no cost for the Academy Program. However, auxiliary services (education, counseling, etc.) will be paid by the Academy participants. No person shall be excluded from participation in this program on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap.

The North Country Academy is funded in part by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections.

For more information, please call (603) 752-7943. 

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