The Prince George County Board convened on September 9, 2025, to discuss several key initiatives aimed at enhancing the local recovery court program. The meeting featured a request from Katie Danahell, the Recovery Court Coordinator, for authorization to apply for a grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) under the Burns State Crisis Intervention Program.

Danahell explained that the grant, which is competitive and has a deadline of September 26, 2025, offers up to $150,000 for specialty court programs. She is seeking $140,184 to fund several critical positions and services over an 18-month period from January 2026 to July 2027. Notably, there is no matching funds requirement for this grant.

The proposed budget includes funding for a paid defense attorney, an intern, and a part-time deputy. Currently, the defense attorney position is filled by a volunteer, Miss Martin, who has served for 20 years. Danahell emphasized the need for a paid attorney to ensure constitutional representation for participants, estimating the cost at $46,800 over the grant period.

The intern position, budgeted at approximately $26,063, aims to provide valuable real-world experience for a college student while assisting the recovery court team with various tasks, including community outreach and program development.

Additionally, Danahell proposed hiring a part-time deputy to conduct job and community service checks, which would enhance oversight and support for participants. This position is crucial as current deputies are only available on an overtime basis, limiting their ability to monitor compliance effectively.

Danahell also addressed the pressing issue of housing assistance for participants transitioning from correctional facilities. She proposed allocating $16,000 for temporary housing support, which would cover a maximum of two months for up to ten individuals, helping to mitigate one of the significant barriers to recovery.

Lastly, she requested $4,700 for travel assistance to enable the recovery court team to attend national conferences hosted by All Rise, an organization that promotes best practices in recovery court programs. This investment aims to foster team cohesion and ensure that the court remains informed about effective strategies to reduce recidivism and support long-term recovery.

The board's discussions highlighted the importance of these initiatives in strengthening the recovery court's capacity to serve participants effectively. The meeting concluded with an invitation for questions, indicating a collaborative approach to refining the proposal before submission.