Municipal Judge Jason Maxwell and treatment court staff told the Liberal City Commission on July 22 that the local treatment court has expanded since a 2019 pilot and now operates two tracks to serve people at different risk levels.

The presentation on the misdemeanor-level program explained who it serves, how it is funded and how the court measures success, and included remarks from program alumni about personal recovery.

Maxwell, who serves as both the municipal court judge and the treatment court judge, said the program began as a 2019 pilot and became more structured in 2020. "We started with a high risk, high need track," Maxwell said, adding that leaders recently added a "low risk, high need" track as an early intervention. "We are a 5 phase program," he said, noting the court has built an alumni association to support participants moving into later phases.

Why it matters: Commissioners heard specifics about costs and community benefits as the program's federal grant approaches expiration. Staff and speakers urged the commission to consider local funding options to avoid interrupting services for participants in active treatment.

Key details presented to the commission included participant counts, program lengths and funding sources. Maxwell said the court currently has about 15 active participants in the high-risk track and one active participant in the new low-risk track. He described phase lengths: the high-risk track has a minimum of about 14 months and the low-risk track a minimum of about 12 months, with many high-risk participants taking 18 to 36 months to complete the program. He also described frequent testing and monitoring: "We test them 4 to 5 times per week," he said, and the court uses urinalysis, oral swabs, sweat patches and 24/7 alcohol monitoring.

Maxwell estimated program savings from avoided jail time by offering an example of a late-phase participant who avoided 1,455 days of county jail time; at a county charge of $52 per day he calculated $75,660 in avoided county jail costs for that individual. He emphasized that not every case follows the same arc but used the example to illustrate potential cost savings to the community.

On funding, speakers told commissioners that the program has relied on a mix of grants and local revenue. Maxwell said the court received a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant in 2021 and earlier foundation assistance; current funding includes the local alcohol tax, opioid settlement funds, private donations and foundation contributions. He said a previously awarded federal grant that was scheduled to run out in September has been extended to March (extension timing noted in the presentation); commissioners were told staff will need to identify local options should federal support expire.

Alumni and participants spoke in support of the court. Isaac Gonzales, identified as a 2024 graduate, said, "This program saved my life." Participant Josh Milton described his experience in treatment and urged continued support: "Without this program, I don't think I'd be standing in front of you today. I'd probably be dead," he said, recounting his path through residential treatment and supervision.

Commissioners asked about outcomes and long-term financing. Staff said they will return to the commission with more detailed funding options; a commissioner commented the commission will discuss how to fund the program "if the federal grant is no longer available." No formal action or appropriation was taken at the meeting.

Ending: Commission members thanked staff and program participants for the presentation and said they will consider funding and policy options in future meetings to sustain the court if federal support lapses.