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Supervisors proclaim May as Treatment Court Month; presenters highlight diversion program outcomes and funding
Summary
The board proclaimed May 2025 as Treatment Court Month and approved a court grant to support recovery court operations. Presenters and supervisors described treatment courts as cost‑effective alternatives to incarceration and noted upcoming graduations and community partnerships.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors on April 8 adopted a proclamation designating May 2025 as Treatment Court Month and approved a Fiscal Year 2025 grant agreement to support recovery court operations.
Why it matters: County officials said specialty treatment courts — including recovery court, veterans court, mental health court and family treatment court — offer therapeutic alternatives to incarceration, reduce recidivism and save taxpayer dollars compared with conventional incarceration. Staff also described near‑term public events, including graduation ceremonies for program participants.
What the board approved - Proclamation designating May 2025 as Treatment Court Month (adopted by voice vote). - Acceptance of a Fiscal Year 2025 Cycle 38 funding agreement from the Administrative Office of the Courts in the amount of $62,861.08 to support recovery court and associated budget amendments (approved by voice vote).
Discussion highlights - Cost comparison: The proclamation and presenters stated that Coconino County treatment courts on average save taxpayers about $65,000 for every individual served annually, while therapeutic court services average about $6,000 per person in direct services. The figures were introduced during the proclamation reading and subsequent remarks and were described as an average return on investment for treatment court programs.
- Program impacts and events: Supervisors and presenters described the courts’ broader social benefits — improving education, employment, housing stability and family reunification — and noted upcoming public graduations. Mental health court had a scheduled graduation the following week; recovery court had a graduation planned for May 7 (public invited).
- Partnerships and program history: Supervisors praised cross‑system coordination among judges, county attorneys, probation, sheriff’s office and community providers. Supervisor remarks credited past county leaders and county employees for establishing and advancing specialty courts.
What happens next: Staff will administer the accepted grant funds for recovery court staffing and judge time, continue coordination with court partners and support public ceremonies for program graduates.
