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Village Okeechobee reports jail‑reentry peer support served 41 clients; commissioners praise cost savings
Summary
Leah Soarscribe of Village Okeechobee reported that the organization’s peer‑support jail‑reentry program served 41 clients (7 from jail, 31 from drug court), and estimated taxpayer savings if clients complete programs. Commissioners praised the program and discussed potential increased funding during the budget process.
Leah Soarscribe, executive director of Village Okeechobee, presented a quarterly update on the nonprofit’s peer support services for jail reentry and drug court clients.
Soarscribe told the board the program served a total of 41 clients in the reporting period; seven clients came from the jail reentry stream and 31 were served through drug court. The program manager (not present) manages caseloads of eight to 12 clients, Soarscribe said, which she described as a time‑intensive caseload. Staff presented an estimate that “the project dollars saved if all current clients complete drug court is 479,000. So it’s a total savings to the taxpayer of $814,398,” figures Soarscribe said.
Commissioners praised the program’s results. Commissioner Sumner said the program helps reduce recidivism and saves county resources; other commissioners asked staff to consider increased funding during the upcoming budget process. Soarscribe said the program operates on about $15,000 of county support and relies on other grants and partnerships to remain open.
Commissioners asked staff and supervisors on the Public Safety Coordinating Council to highlight the program’s demonstrated cost savings for outreach and budgeting purposes.
