Rusk County CJCC advances diversion planning; recovery court evaluated and Family Health Center to join

Members of the Rusk County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council said the county is advancing diversion and deflection planning while navigating grant timelines and service partnerships.

Emily, who reported for the Mental Health Subcommittee, said the subcommittee has focused on creating options for people who are low-risk and low-need and who are not appropriate for treatment court. She said the group is pursuing pre-charge diversion for early-intervention candidates but is waiting for final confirmation from the public defender’s office about providing public-defender services for pre-charge diversion cases.

Marsha and Heather from the U.S. Department of Justice conducted an observational evaluation of recovery-court team processes and the recovery-court hearing; meeting participants said the evaluators will provide a written report in about six to eight weeks. Separately, the Family Health Center has finalized a contract that will be sent for signatures; county staff said members of the Family Health Center will begin attending recovery-court hearings starting the Wednesday after the meeting. The Family Health Center care coordinator, Melissa, was identified as the staff member who will attend and report back to counselors.

The group discussed using Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIMS mapping) to analyze local system touchpoints and design deflection strategies. Members said the mapping workshop requires roughly six months’ lead time for planning and is scheduled for early 2026; the mapping would inform a future grant application cycle. Participants noted a timing mismatch: some diversion and deflection grant opportunities close sooner than the mapping can be completed, so the CJCC will both pursue what is possible with existing resources now and seek grant funding as it becomes available.

Members also reported outreach to state partners; they said the Department of Health Services (DHS) has programs the CJCC could integrate into deflection work. The meeting record shows members plan to move forward immediately on initiatives they can support with current resources while preparing mapping and grant materials to expand efforts in later grant cycles.

Next steps: staff will circulate meeting notes; the mental-health team will follow up with Kirby (public defender) about pre-charge diversion participation; the Family Health Center will begin attending hearings, and the CJCC will continue preparing for Sequential Intercept Mapping and related grant applications.