Supported‑release program credited with reducing jail population; officials discuss expansion and sustainability

Officials told the SRLJC that pretrial and supported‑release programs are helping reduce the jail population and that program leaders are exploring expansion while assessing long‑term funding needs.

Aaron Stromberg said Capstone’s supported‑release program has released more than 100 people into community services and has an enrollment rate of about 45 percent for the voluntary program. "Our enrollment rate is 45%, which I think is actually really good for a volunteer program," he said, and added that participants who stay engaged show strong return‑to‑court rates and fewer new charges.

Speakers described operational supports that make the program work: courthouse navigator help desks, warm handoffs at first appearances by Justin Johnson’s team, and close coordination with judges and treatment providers. Staff report nearly 5,000 people helped by courthouse help desks since their inception.

The group discussed challenges to expanding services. Officials said diversion referrals have been limited by defendants who do not disclose mental‑health needs, by restitution obligations that complicate diversion eligibility, and by holds from entities outside the county that prevent release. Aaron and others urged more meetings and a data‑driven case to the board to justify adding staff and sustaining programs after grant funding ends.

Justin, describing Community Court, said filings have increased since the city modified camping laws and that downtown cases now include many controlled‑substance and camping matters. "The biggest issues we continue to have are really fentanyl and mental health," Justin said, noting heavy resource demands in the downtown core and staff constraints that ended some auxiliary community‑court sites after COVID.

Officials asked staff to prepare outcome and cost data for a board briefing in June or July so the commissioners can consider sustaining or scaling the programs, including possibly adding another pretrial service officer.