Graham County board approves submission of FY26 'fill the gap' grant to support pretrial services

Mindy Young, representing Graham County Superior Court, asked the board for permission to submit the fiscal-year 2026 "fill the gap" application for state and local aid to help pay a portion of the pretrial services officer’s salary and employer-related expenses.

"Fiscal year state aid projection, is $15,021 and this is actually almost a $2,300 increase from fiscal year 25," Young said, adding the county planned to use a portion of those special-revenue funds to cover salary and ERE costs. She described the pretrial services officer’s role: defendants placed on pretrial services after arraignment receive an intake and referrals to counseling, mental-health or substance-use treatment, employment assistance and ongoing monitoring.

Young said the office uses a smartphone application called Reconnect for text check-ins, location monitoring and virtual meetings to support compliance. She told supervisors the county intends to use approximately 16% local funds and 15% state "fill the gap" funds to pay for the pretrial position.

A supervisor asked whether the request was treated like a grant application; Young explained the filing is completed through the grants portal and is treated the same as other grant submissions. The board voted to approve permission to submit the FY26 application.

Why it matters: the funds help maintain pretrial services that provide referrals and monitoring intended to reduce reoffending and assist defendants in meeting court conditions without unnecessary incarceration.

Details and context: Young noted the state aid projection and the percent-share plan for paying salary and related costs. The program’s use of a smartphone-based monitoring/engagement tool was described as improving accountability and enabling remote contact for working clients.

What’s next: Court staff will submit the application through the grants portal and, if funded, apply the awarded funds to pretrial staff costs.