Municipal judges report diversion program has reduced jail days and early recidivism, saved city money

Municipal judges and court staff told Casper City Council that a diversion program sending eligible defendants to treatment — primarily Central Wyoming Counseling Center (CWCC) and related services — has reduced jail days, produced early evidence of lower reoffending and saved the city substantial detention costs.

Judge Gillespie described program data for February through June and said 13 defendants elected diversion; five completed treatment and received credit on fines at an approximate rate of $30 per day (the credit figure used by the court). The judges said staff track defendants who are waiting on treatment beds, those still incarcerated because they rejected treatment, and those who have completed programming.

Judge Gillespie said the diversion option has already delivered a measurable fiscal benefit: the court estimated 2,057 days not served at the Natrona County Detention Center, and at an assumed detention cost of $147 per day that translated to $302,379 saved during the stated period. Judges also reported that May was the program's strongest month, with an 85 percent non-reoffense rate among participants that month.

Judge Hand said the city attorney's office also operates a deferred-prosecution diversion track that sometimes occurs before a case is filed, and that both approaches are being used. Judges and staff emphasized that the program's success depends on available treatment beds and defendants' willingness to participate, and they said they plan to continue tracking recidivism over a longer timeframe and to coordinate with CWCC, CRC and community partners on follow-up services.

Councilors praised the work and asked for more longitudinal tracking as more data accumulate. No formal vote was taken.