The Baker County commissioners on July 16 approved county applications and agreements to secure criminal-justice funding for the biennium.

County probation staff presented a Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) application to the board. Ryan Downing, representing probation/parole staff, said the two-year funding request provides money for “one full time PO” (probation officer) and related management costs. He told the board that 10% of JRI funding is mandated to go to a regional partner (Mayday) and that an additional 3% is retained at the state level for administration, leaving roughly 87% to the county program. The board voted to approve application submission for a biennial JRI amount of $191,000.34.

Separately, the board approved a JCP basic state-funding agreement with the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), agreement number 15400, for $43,201 covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Staff said the OYA funding will support “youth accountability / court counselor” duties and has been included in the county budget.

Why it matters: the grants fund county probation and youth accountability services, supporting staffing and program operations. County staff said the JRI award would carry conditions, such as mandated allocations to partner organizations and state administrative fees.

Votes: both motions passed by voice vote. Commissioners said grant applications and contract signatures will move forward and that staff should finalize required documents and return where needed for sign-off.