Commission accepts specialty court funding to sustain recovery court services

Riley County Community Corrections requested and received commission approval to accept a specialty-court funding award for the District 1 recovery court.

Jesse Hepburn briefed commissioners on the program’s role in reducing recidivism and described the award from the Office of Judicial Administration (OJA) as assisting with medical and mental-health evaluations, treatment, transportation, employment assistance and structured sober living. Hepburn said the award amount was "just shy of $30,028.06." Commissioner motioned to accept the award, the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Staff said acceptance of the award will supplement opioid-settlement funding already approved by local governments for the recovery-court program and will also support paying for defense-attorney representation and team training. The commission approved acceptance of the award and asked that staff proceed with required agreement execution and program reporting.

What happens next: community-corrections staff will execute the funding agreement, integrate the award into the recovery court budget and report back to the commission on program expenditures and outcomes.