Delaware County board approves expansion of court‑mandated PREP 2 program, will seek opioid‑settlement funding

The Delaware County Jail Oversight Board voted to support an expansion of the PREP 2 substance‑use treatment program and authorized an application to the county’s opioid‑settlement fund to pay for the program going forward.

The motion, made by board member McDonald and seconded by Deborah Love, called for the PREP 2 expansion to add two full‑time substance‑use counselors, one licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and one substance‑use/mental‑health support coordinator. The board approved the motion by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Board members and staff said the expansion is intended to increase the frequency of court‑mandated PREP 2 cohorts. Director O’Malley and Warden Williams described PREP 1 as an eight‑week, open‑admission cognitive‑behavioral program and PREP 2 as a 12‑week, court‑mandated program geared to repeat offenders. Officials said delays in enrolling people in PREP 2 have lengthened some incarcerations and that expanding staffing would allow the jail to offer PREP 2 more regularly.

Warden Williams told the board the county would first request opioid‑settlement dollars to cover personnel and programmatic costs currently carried in the county general fund, and, if supported, seek additional settlement funding to expand the program. The Warden described the fiscal 2025 departmental budget for substance‑use services as $347,707.06 and estimated additional staff costs of $202,280, producing a combined approximate total of $550,000 if salaries remain unchanged for calendar 2026. A county staff member confirmed the $347,707.06 figure was an annualized amount.

Board members including Judge Kroll and others voiced support, saying more regular PREP 2 offerings could shorten stays for people waiting to enter the court‑mandated program and improve reentry outcomes.

The motion language recorded in the meeting: “Support the expansion of the PREP 2 program to add two full‑time substance‑use counselors, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and a substance‑use mental‑health support coordinator, and to apply to the opioid settlement fund to pay for PREP 2 going forward.”

The board did not record a formal roll‑call vote count in the transcript; the motion carried on a voice vote. No appropriation or award from the opioid‑settlement fund was approved at the meeting — the board authorized only the application/request to the county opioid‑settlement review group.

Votes at a glance • Motion to support PREP 2 expansion and apply to opioid‑settlement fund: motion by McDonald; second by Deborah Love; outcome: approved by voice vote (no roll‑call tally in transcript).

Clarifying context Officials emphasized that PREP 2 is often court‑mandated and that limited staffing and space have produced a closed‑admission schedule that can delay enrollment. The board was told the county will first apply for settlement dollars to replace current general‑fund support if eligible; staff said the settlement review group could deny the request and that eligibility is not guaranteed.

What happens next The board’s approval directs staff to prepare the application to the county opioid‑settlement allocation process. Any actual transfer of settlement money to pay current or expanded PREP 2 costs would require subsequent approvals in the county’s settlement governance process and, where applicable, in budgeting channels.