217.777.  Community corrections program alternative for eligible offenders, purpose — operation — rules — guidelines. — 1.  The department shall administer a community corrections program to encourage the establishment of local sentencing alternatives for offenders to:

  (1)  Promote accountability of offenders to crime victims, local communities and the state by providing increased opportunities for offenders to make restitution to victims of crime through financial reimbursement or community service;

  (2)  Ensure that victims of crime are included in meaningful ways in Missouri's response to crime;

  (3)  Provide structured opportunities for local communities to determine effective local sentencing options to assure that individual community programs are specifically designed to meet local needs;

  (4)  Reduce the cost of punishment, supervision and treatment significantly below the annual per-offender cost of confinement within the traditional prison system;

  (5)  Utilize community supervision centers to effectively respond to violations and prevent revocations;

  (6)  Improve public confidence in the criminal justice system by involving the public in the development of community-based sentencing options for eligible offenders; and

  (7)  Promote opportunities for nonviolent primary caregivers to care for their dependent children.

  2.  The program shall be designed to implement and operate community-based restorative justice projects including, but not limited to:  preventive or diversionary programs, community-based intensive probation and parole services, community-based treatment centers, day reporting centers, and the operation of facilities for the detention, confinement, care and treatment of adults under the purview of this chapter.

  3.  The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for operation of the program established pursuant to this section as provided for in section 217.040 and chapter 536.

  4.  Any proposed program or strategy created pursuant to this section shall be developed after identification of a need in the community for such programs, through consultation with representatives of the general public, judiciary, law enforcement and defense and prosecution bar.

  5.  In communities where local volunteer community boards are established at the request of the court, the following guidelines apply:

  (1)  The department shall provide a program of training to eligible volunteers and develop specific conditions of a probation program and conditions of probation for offenders referred to it by the court.  Such conditions, as established by the community boards and the department, may include compensation and restitution to the community and the victim by fines, fees, day fines, victim-offender mediation, participation in victim impact panels, community service, or a combination of the aforementioned conditions;

  (2)  The term of probation shall not exceed five years and may be concluded by the court when conditions imposed are met to the satisfaction of the local volunteer community board.

  6.  The department may staff programs created pursuant to this section with employees of the department or may contract with other public or private agencies for delivery of services as otherwise provided by law.