Wayne County community corrections presents new program model, cites staffing shortfalls and vendor delays while seeking more state funds

Lester Thomas, administrator for adult community corrections, told the Wayne County Community Corrections Advisory Board that staff had prepared a new program overview — including a logic model, SWOT analysis and key performance indicators — to provide the data the division will use when requesting additional state grant money.

The overview is intended to show what the division is achieving and where it is falling short so the county can justify asking for more Michigan Department of Corrections funding, Thomas said. "The goal would be to ask for more money," he said.

The board heard that the division has hired a county qualitative specialist, Jamille, who will produce quarterly charts and data to track utilization and vendors' compliance with contract targets. Ebony McCann, division director for transition services, said the data will be used in the department's application to the state and to identify when program or staffing changes are needed.

Board members pressed staff about coverage in courtrooms and whether case-differentiation staff were visiting judges across the bench or only arraignment panels. McCann said the staff member assigned to…