St. Joseph County board authorizes application for 2027 Department of Corrections juvenile grant

Tamika Alexander, director of juvenile community corrections at the St. Joseph Probate Court and Juvenile Justice Center, asked the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners to approve submitting an application for a Department of Corrections grant for fiscal year 2027. "Our department has successfully received this grant for many years, and it's been instrumental in supporting and sustaining our community corrections program," she said.

Alexander told the board the grant helps fund services for youth and families served by the county's juvenile corrections program. When a commissioner asked whether the department expected renewal—noting past unpredictability in Department of Corrections decisions—Alexander replied, "I think they will. We've been getting it for many years." She said staff would notify the board if circumstances change.

After the presentation and brief questioning, a commissioner moved to approve the application request and a second was made. The board conducted a verbal roll-call-style vote; all commissioners present answered "Aye," and the motion to authorize staff to apply for the FY2027 DOC grant carried.

The county will proceed with the application and report back to the board if there are any changes to the grant status or award timeline. The meeting then moved on to other business and recessed.