Advisory board approves slate of 2026 justice grant applications and a contract amendment

The Marion County Community Questions Advisory Board on March 20 approved a series of 2026 grant application submissions for courts, corrections and public-safety programs and amended a contract for language services.

The approvals included requests to submit Justice Reinvestment Grant (JRG) or similar applications for the mental health court and veterans court, the sheriff's jail treatment program, probation and pretrial services, drug treatment and reentry courts, the prosecutor's felony diversion program, and community corrections (community supervision and work release). The board also approved an amendment to a county contract with a language-service vendor, increasing it by $20,000 and extending its term to August 2025.

Why it matters: The approvals clear the agencies to seek state grant funding for calendar year 2026 programs that county staff say fund front-line treatment, supervision and services for people involved in the criminal-justice system. Several presenters told the board that these grants fund staff positions, drug testing, electronic monitoring and other direct services that they said are central to program operations.

Votes at a glance - Amendment to ACC Indie language-services contract: approved. Action: increase contract by $20,000 and extend term through August 2025. (Presenter:…