Kansas community corrections asks Legislature for $3 million to hire officers and expand behavioral health services

Randy Regier, director of Reno County Community Corrections and president of the Kansas Community Corrections Association, told a Kansas House committee on Oct. 27 that community corrections needs $3 million in additional state grant funding to reduce caseloads and expand behavioral health services.

"Community corrections is such a great return on your investment," Regier said during a presentation to Chairman Lewis and committee members. He asked lawmakers to approve an extra $1,500,000 to hire more officers and another $1,500,000 to expand a behavioral health grant that pays for treatment and programs for probationers.

Regier said field supervision in Kansas is provided by three distinct agencies: Court Services under the Office of Judicial Administration, county-run Community Corrections, and state parole under the Department of Corrections. He said community corrections officers are county employees whose agencies receive state general fund grant dollars administered through the Kansas Department of Corrections, and are governed locally by advisory boards and county commissions.

Regier described community corrections as focused on changing criminal thinking and…