County council approves grant-funded contract with AMP for pretrial services

Tooele County Council approved a contract with AMP to operate a pretrial services program that will remind defendants of court dates and provide other pretrial supports, County staff said at the April meeting.

Alan, the county’s criminal-justice coordinating council director, told the council the program was designed to reduce missed court appearances and associated jail costs by providing reminders and case supervision from release until the next hearing. AMP owner Ashton Perry was the bidder interviewed by staff; the county received one bid and department leaders recommended awarding the contract to AMP based on the firm’s existing experience running similar programs for other Utah jurisdictions.

The program will be paid with grant funds; the county will front costs and seek quarterly reimbursement from the grant. The first fiscal year of the grant ends in September, and staff said they have a second year of funding in the grant proposal; beyond that the county will evaluate sustainability options, including possible fee schedules. Staff said AMP may propose a sliding supervision fee for some participants, based on indigence, and that the county will test the program before deciding whether to make it an in-house service.

Councilman Hoffman moved approval; Councilman Thomas seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote. Staff said they will return with program details, fee proposals and performance updates as the program goes into operation.

The meeting record noted the contracting approach was chosen because the county wanted a ready-to-launch program; staff will revisit the question of whether the service should be county-run after the grant period.