County moves to repeal Department of Alternative Sentencing code chapter; second reading planned as courts and sheriff seek assurances on pretrial supervision

Washoe County staff proposed on Oct. 21 to repeal Chapter 11 of the Washoe County Code, which created the Department of Alternative Sentencing (DAS), and to transfer DAS functions to existing departments and court entities. The board introduced the ordinance at first reading and scheduled a public hearing/second reading for Nov. 18.

Chief Financial Officer Abby Yacobucci explained the rationale: small, stand‑alone departments can lack administrative, HR and fiscal controls; DAS had consecutive years of budget overages and an internal audit with multiple findings. The county’s plan would shift functions as follows: drug‑testing operations would move to a contracted buyer (AverHealth was named as the district‑court vendor), pretrial services assessment and supervision would be centralized with the second Judicial District Court, post‑sentence monitoring functions would transfer principally to the sheriff’s office, and the STAR housing program would be continued across departments though its grant funding for personnel has ended.

Yacobucci said the county expects modest near‑term savings from eliminating the DAS chief post and, over time, reduced overhead by absorbing fiscal and HR duties into larger departments. She and interim manager Kate Thomas emphasized the need for a transition plan and scheduled 30‑ and 60‑day operational reviews after the transfers. Yacobucci presented a proposed schedule for vendor transitions and second‑reading/implementation steps with an anticipated Jan. 1 operational target.

Judicial and court officials urged caution. Reno Justice Court Judge Kendra Bertsch and Justice Court staff said pretrial services already perform risk assessment, administrative release and supervision for several courts and that the supervising court typically controls supervision in best practices. Judge Bertsch said programs such as STAR are “a form of a therapeutic court that is life saving and has shown to reduce recidivism.” Pretrial services manager Manji Winky described current operations: in‑custody interviews for risk assessments, administrative releases, intake supervision, resource assessments and regular compliance reporting; she said the unit is certified by the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies and provides in‑person release acknowledgments and supervision.

Commissioners and staff agreed the core objectives — consistent pretrial risk assessment, trauma‑informed drug testing, and ongoing supervision tied to judicial orders and the sequential intercept model — should be preserved through whatever administrative structure is chosen. Several commissioners emphasized that any transfer must be implemented only after operational issues are resolved and communications among courts, sheriff’s office and county staff are established. Several stakeholders asked for additional meetings; county staff said they will hold 30‑ and 60‑day check‑ins and return with a more detailed implementation and budget package on Nov. 18 and a final staffing plan for the Dec. 16 meeting if the ordinance proceeds.

Ending: The board introduced the ordinance to repeal Chapter 11 and set a Nov. 18 public hearing for a second reading; commissioners asked staff to continue stakeholder meetings and to return with specific budget and staffing actions for formal adoption.