JusticePoint program staff report staffing loss, funding cuts; CJCC members endorse county resolution request

Becky Berry of JusticePoint told the Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on May 14 that the program is down a coordinator and has lost two funding streams that supported outreach and a building initiative. Berry said pretrial services currently serve 113 people with five on a wait list (those five are incarcerated), diversion has 11 active participants with 19 referrals pending, and recovery court has eight active participants with one termination in the prior month.

Berry said deflection and community navigator activities are "doing an insane amount of community leg work" including outreach, overdose prevention and ride‑alongs with law enforcement. She also reported jail program successes including an Ojibwe language and culture program and eight GED completions for the school year.

Berry said funding for two initiatives — described as "Reaching Bridges" (or reaching‑bridal in the handout) and a building‑related grant — was cut on April 22; one award had been as large as $250,000 and another had been a planned $100,000 commitment that had not yet resulted in hires. She said those losses removed substantial planned program capacity.

Becky Berry moved that the CJCC "recommend that the county board present a resolution on this matter and that it be, if it's approved by the County Board, that it be sent to our representatives and on record basically." A CJCC member seconded the motion. The council voted in favor; the motion carried.

Berry distributed an update handout to members and asked for signatures on a support letter to pursue reinstatement of funding.