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Montgomery County authorizes new positions to implement state probation reforms; commissioners say county will cover initial costs
Summary
The county said it will add positions in the district attorney's office, courts and public defenders to comply with state-level probation reform described in the meeting as 'Act 44.' Commissioners said those positions will be funded from the county budget and that the county will track costs and ask the state for reimbursement.
Montgomery County commissioners said Thursday that the county will add staff to support implementation of recent state-level probation reforms the meeting referred to as “Act 44.” County leaders said the law requires more regular assessment of people under supervision and could allow earlier termination of probation in appropriate cases.
Speakers told the board the county prepared multiple positions for the district attorney’s office, courts and the public defender so local staff can assess supervision cases and make individualized decisions that may reduce supervision-related admissions to state correctional facilities. County presenters cited a statistic saying a majority of prison admissions statewide have been connected to supervision violations rather than new crimes.
Commissioners said the county will initially pay for the positions from the county operating budget. “We are paying for those positions,” one commissioner said at the meeting, adding the county intends to track spending and ask state leaders and the governor’s office for funding to offset county costs.
County officials stressed that the new positions are meant to support individualized assessments by local prosecutors, defenders and judicial officers, not to change statutory eligibility. Officials did not provide a timeline for when the positions will be fully staffed or list exact salary totals in the public presentation.
County leaders said they recognize the fiscal challenge for many counties to implement the change and that Montgomery County will inform state legislators and the governor’s office about local costs as the implementation proceeds.
No formal vote enacting these positions beyond the personnel and salary board approvals listed elsewhere on the agenda was described as part of the discussion; commissioners later approved a personnel list and salary-board items during the meeting’s consent actions.
