MI DOC - Special Alternative Incarceration Facility (SAI)

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MI DOC – Special Alternative Incarceration Facility (SAI) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 734-475-1368

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Special Alternative Incarceration Facility located at 18901 Waterloo Rd in Chelsea, MI are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

The Special Alternative Incarceration Facility is located in Chelsea Michigan, part of Washtenaw County and has a capacity of about 200 adult male inmates. This state prison facility was originally a 90-day boot camp style program aimed at probationers. For inmates to be eligible for this program they must not be convicted of an assaultive crime. Once inmates complete the program they must work or attend school for a minimum of 30 hours per week. They will be continually monitored and drug tested to ensure compliance with the program.
Under the administrative control of the Cooper Street Correctional Facility, the Special Alternative Incarceration program (SAI) began in 1988 as an alternative to prison for male probationers convicted of certain crimes and selected by courts. In 1992 the program was expanded to include both male and female prisoners and probationers. State law precludes participation if convicted of a number of primarily assault crimes.
Overview – Phase I of the program involves a highly-disciplined regimen of 90 days, consisting of military-style exercise, meaningful work assignments and other programming, including secondary education and substance-abuse treatment. Phase II involves intensive supervision in the community, usually in a residential "halfway house" setting. Phase III of the program involves supervision of offenders similar to the way in which probationers are supervised. Phase I and III are mandatory, and Phase II is determined by assessing a particular offender's need for residential placement. The goal of the program is to keep selected lower-risk probationers from going to prison and to take qualified prisoners out of the traditional prison setting and place them into a more cost-effective management setting.
The program has proven to be cost-effective and successful in keeping graduates out of prison.
The Program – The military discipline portion of the program is designed to break down street-wise attitudes so staff can teach positive values and attitudes. Offenders take classes in job-seeking skills, substance-abuse awareness and anger management. They are also enrolled in General Educational Development preparation and Adult Basic Education. They perform a variety of tasks, including conservation work, recycling, parks maintenance and snow removal near senior housing.

The SAI program includes an intensive post-release program and may include Phase II, which is placed for up to 120 days in a residential setting or on electronic monitoring. For prisoners, Phase III includes parole for 18 months or for the balance of the minimum sentence, whichever is longer. The first four months of parole are under intensive supervision, which can include daily supervision, including nights and weekends if needed.
While in post-release, offenders are expected to work or go to school at least 30 hours per week. They must submit to a drug test when requested and participate in any counseling, treatment programming or training, as directed by the agent.

AGE LIMIT: Males & females, 18 and older
SECURITY LEVEL: I

visitation Info

Michigan DOC – Special Alternative Incarceration Facility (SAI) – Visitation

Visiting Hours

Monday, Thursday and Friday are 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Weekend visits are according to an odd/even schedule, based on the last digit of the prisoner's number.
If the number ends in an odd digit that prisoner may have visitation only on the odd dated weekend day.