Justice Point reports program gains and seeks DHS re-entry navigator grant for Sawyer County

Justice Point representative Becky updated the Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on April 8, reporting 123 active pre-trial participants in March and citing 14 successful completions in that program.

Becky described diversion and treatment-court activity: diversion had six active cases and six pending referrals with no completions yet; treatment court had three active participants and three pending referrals. She said referrals can take time because of the intake and assessment process.

On funding, staff reported they submitted a Department of Health Services-funded re-entry navigator application on March 31. ‘‘If we are awarded, it would start on May 1, run through December 31 of this year, that would be $50,000, and then for two subsequent years, we'd get $100,000,’’ Becky said. Staff said the award would help a deflection budget that is currently low.

Becky also described outreach and program activity, including supervised highway pickup days for community-service hours, an ongoing bingo program with high attendance, and a SNAP training that has had low enrollment despite ten available spots. Staff asked members to help promote underenrolled training.

No formal vote or award decision was made at the meeting; staff said they would report back if and when grant funding is awarded.