Criminal Justice Coordinating Council expands 'Justice Bus' outreach and debuts activity book for children of incarcerated parents

Coconino County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) said Monday it will expand community outreach by taking legal‑service, social‑service and court‑information efforts into rural communities and shelters, and introduced a draft activity book for children of incarcerated parents.

Diana, the CJCC director, told the Board of Supervisors that the CJCC will host three Justice Bus events by June in Tuba City, Flagstaff (a shelter‑based event) and Page, pairing court staff, social‑service providers and legal aid to resolve outstanding warrants, provide enrollments for behavioral health services, and offer referrals to housing and reentry services.

Why it matters: Many county residents in remote communities face access barriers to courts, social services and record‑keeping functions. The traveling events are intended to reduce those barriers, resolve low‑level warrants and connect residents with services that can remove obstacles to housing and employment.

Key details

- Services and partners: The events will include superior court staff, prosecutors, public defenders, the county recorder for voter registration, health and human services for eligibility and enrollment, and local behavioral health providers. The Flagstaff shelter event will be the first time CJCC has held a warrant‑resolution event at the shelter; staff said they had coordinated closely with shelter management to ensure participant comfort and safety.

- Children of incarcerated parents activity book: An intern‑supported project produced a draft activity and coloring book designed to be age‑appropriate for children with an incarcerated parent. Diana said the book fills a gap: there are resources for caregivers and caseworkers, but the CJCC found few child‑facing materials. The council seeks to translate and publish the booklet and to create a companion workbook for parents or caregivers.

- Warrant resolution and services: CJCC staff surveyed event attendees in Tuba City and reported mental‑health services as the most frequently requested support; the June events will feature on‑site intake capacity from local providers (for example, a mobile Guidance Center van and Page‑area providers via Encompass/Community Bridges).

Next steps

Diana said CJCC will continue outreach to the county’s tribal and municipal partners, will pilot the Justice Bus events at the planned locations and will workshop the activity book for translation and distribution. She also proposed a CJCC‑run citizens academy to educate residents about how the criminal justice system works and to cultivate volunteer leaders.

Ending

Supervisors welcomed the outreach plans and praised the child activity book as a practical, low‑cost tool to better support families touched by incarceration. CJCC staff said they would return with details on the next Justice Bus events and a plan to publish and distribute the booklet.