The 92ND district community court program will be a court ordered, and community-based resource for those with low-level misdemeanor crimes

The County of Luce in Newberry, Michigan will receive $419,292 under a four-year Project Grant award from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program (CFDA 16.585). The grant will fund the 92nd District Community Court Program, which will provide evidence-based treatment court services for individuals with substance use disorders charged with low-level misdemeanors in Luce County and surrounding rural communities.

The program aims to engage the community, introduce resources for education, job training, employment, and equal access to substance use and mental health treatment. It will work with local and neighboring communities to coordinate efforts and minimize duplication, enhancing consistency and outcomes. Services will include risk and needs screening, individual assessments, monitoring, and support to increase success and reduce recidivism. Data collection will track progress and inform improvements over the four-year period.

Our main focus is community engagement, introducing resources to further education, job-training or employment depending on the needs of our participants. Also, ensuring equal access to SUD and mental health treatment, relationship building and reducing recidivism in local and outlying communities. The program will work with the local and surrounding communities to combine resources and join efforts to minimize duplicate efforts, enhance consistency, and increase outcomes. Being on the cusp of a "high-priority" area, with an increase in poverty every year, our two very rural communities have been left to fend for ourselves. With the limited access to internet services and transportation barriers our entire communities have suffered. The communities have failed to thrive in this increasingly digital world, causing negative repercussions that has affected US all. An increase in crime and reduction in reliable resources make the need for funding dire. With the increase in misdemeanor crimes in small communities, duplicate efforts and inconsistent processes only reduce the chance that individuals will get and maintain healthy and productive lifestyles. By mapping out guidelines and protocols for all agencies to utilize the efforts and resources become more reliable and efficient at overall program and individual success. Along with compliance monitoring we can improve accountability for the participants. After collaboration within the community and out-lying communities the program will be accessible to all. During the pre-trial phase of the court proceedings, clients are screened using evidence based screening tool to address risk and needs. With these practices in place, the individual will be assessed and transition into the program, with consistent monitoring and support to ensure success. With data collection and processing throughout the program life we can map our success and seek out downfalls to correct any errors and further future successes. The requested funding for the program is a total of $597685.00 to expand over the four-year funding period. With combined support from local agencies and program sustainability efforts in place the program will far surpass the proposed program length. Thank you for your consideration in the 92ND district community court program.