The Indianapolis Veterans Court board approved a one-year contract of $79,200 with PACE, a reentry service provider, during a board meeting where Marion County Community Corrections staff presented program outcomes and an implementation overview.

Board members were told the contract extends services that bring a facilitator to the Duval Rehabilitation Center (DRC) for mock interviews, resume-writing in a computer lab at PACE headquarters on Meridian and instruction on both hard and soft employment skills. Justin Garcia, chief financial officer for Marion County Community Corrections, said the county had an existing relationship with PACE dating to 2017 and sought the renewal to continue that work. "I'm looking for approval for PACE for $79,200 for a 1 year term," Garcia said.

Garcia told the board that, from January through September 2025, 304 DRC residents participated in the PACE program and 228 had completed it so far, a roughly 75% completion rate. He said the completion rate reflects program participation and not employment outcomes. When asked whether the completion metric translated into employment, Garcia said no employment statistic was available at the meeting but offered to provide post-completion employment data to the board.

Board members raised questions about contract history and procurement. Garcia said the county had conducted a request-for-proposals process for the current contract period and that PACE was selected from several candidates. A motion to approve the contract passed without recorded opposition.

The approval continues an in-person reentry curriculum at DRC and computer-lab resume support at PACE headquarters. The board did not adopt any additional reporting requirements at the meeting; staff committed to provide employment-follow-up data at a later date.

For context, presenters identified the program as operating three days per week at DRC and providing mock interviews, job-skills training and wellness information as part of reentry preparation. The board will next consider any supplemental outcome reports when staff returns with employment data.