Council appropriates $24,161.76 for Community Corrections re‑entry program

The Steuben County Council approved appropriations totaling $24,161.76 on Feb. 12 to cover expenses for the Community Corrections Community Transition Program (CTP).

Brett Hays, Community Corrections Coordinator, told the council the CTP is a state‑funded re‑entry mechanism that places eligible incarcerated individuals into work‑release or supervised transition, with the state reimbursing the county for services. Participants receive drug testing, specialized services and counseling; failing drug tests results in removal from the program and return to prison, Hays said. On completion of required services, participants may be released to a home detention program to serve any remaining sentence.

Council approved two CTP line items—$1,375 to Miscellaneous Disbursements/Community Transit and $22,786.76 to LaGrange Jail CTP—on a motion by Ken Shelton seconded by Wil Howard; the motion carried 5‑0.

Why it matters: The appropriations put state‑reimbursed program funds into county accounts so Community Corrections can continue administering re‑entry services that aim to reduce recidivism and support supervised transition back into the community.