Commission approves $912,599 grant to fund evidence-based program manager, classes at county jail

Williamson County commissioners on June 9 approved Resolution 6 25 35, authorizing the county mayor to accept a grant from the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Criminal Justice Programs to fund a full-time evidence-based program manager and associated programming at the Williamson County jail.

The grant totals $912,599 and is conditional on grant funding availability; it does not require a local match, the county said. County and sheriff’s office presenters described the funding as covering a combination of positions, contracted program delivery with Educare, classroom refitting inside the jail and program supplies.

Captain Chad Yuker and a representative from Educare described the program elements. Educare will provide two program staff on campus — a group facilitator and a clinical supervisor — and supply curriculum, materials and training. The grant budget included an educator professional fee (roughly $291,626 year 1), salary lines for the county position (about $85,501 year 1) and construction/refit costs to prepare two classrooms in the jail, which county staff estimated at roughly $75,000.

“ The money has a contracting portion built into it for Educare to be able to provide the programming in the jail,” an Educare representative told commissioners, describing staffing, curriculum and supplies in the grant budget.

Sheriff’s staff said the grant also covers the salary and benefits for a deputy assigned to help implement and support the program in the jail; the deputy is an existing employee who would be reassigned while the grant lasts. County staff said that if the grant concluded, the deputy position would revert to other jail duties rather than creating an ongoing unfunded county position.

Commissioners asked for program details and outcomes. Commissioner Bill Petty noted the program’s national track record and cited a roughly 36% success rate reported by program materials; other commissioners asked about the grant budget breakdown and whether the county would be obligated long term. County staff and Educare representatives said the grant funds program salaries, contractor fees, curriculum and classroom construction for the grant period and that the role of the county deputy would revert if grant funding ends.

The resolution passed unanimously, 22‑0. County presenters said the program aims to reduce recidivism by providing cognitive‑behavioral and other evidence‑based programming inside the jail; the grant is time-limited and the position is conditional on continued grant funding.