Multnomah County OKs budget modification to accept additional Criminal Justice Commission specialty-court funds

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved a budget modification Tuesday to accept additional Criminal Justice Commission grant funding to support four specialty court programs that offer alternatives to incarceration.

Why it matters: specialty courts — including DUII diversion (DISP), mental-health court, STAR (drug court) and STEP (strategic treatment and engagement) — are designed to provide supervision, treatment and services that can prevent prison sentences for eligible justice-involved individuals. County officials said the additional funding helps restore reductions from the prior biennium and funds capacity increases that jurisdictions consider essential to meet program standards.

What the board approved

The Department of Community Justice presented the budget modification after the short legislative session restored some specialty-court fund pools via House Bill 5024 (a funding bill tied to HB 4002). Denise Pena, director of the Department of Community Justice, and DCJ staff explained that counties were asked to resubmit applications in April to request funds to make up prior shortfalls.

DCJ and the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said the awarded funding is primarily one-time money to cover fiscal-year 2025 needs. Michelle Myers, finance director for the district attorney, joined DCJ presenters and described the DA's office share of the award.

Officials said the award provides partial or full restoration for previously underfunded programs and adds some targeted positions: an additional parole-and-probation officer for STEP and one District Attorney Assistant (DDA 2) position for the DA's office were among the newly funded roles described.

Board discussion and implementation

Commissioners pressed staff about gaps between what the county requested and the amounts awarded. DCJ staff reported funding shortfalls from the initial application: approximately $257,000 for DISP, $500,000 for STAR, $1,000,000 for STEP and $784,000 for mental-health court. The short session funding and the supplementary CJC award reduce some of those gaps for FY25, and county staff said they will continue to seek stable funding in the 2025–27 biennium.

District Attorney Mike Vasquez said specialty courts process thousands of cases and provide a cost-effective alternative to Department of Corrections sentences, reduce recidivism and provide community supervision and treatment. "These programs are vital," he said, describing them as ways to keep people in the community while addressing substance-use disorder and other needs.

The county noted that some positions (for example parole-and-probation officers) are typically paid from county general fund positions rather than by CJC grants; treatment and provider contracts depend heavily on grant funding and are vulnerable in tight budget years.

Vote and next steps

The board approved the budget modification by roll call vote. County staff said they will follow up with commissioners about the county general-fund commitment to these courts and provide more precise figures on the remaining gaps between requested and awarded funding. Staff also said they will continue legislative advocacy to seek more stable funding in the next biennium.

Ending

Commissioners and presenters said they will continue to press the state for stable specialty-court funding; county staff urged continued partnership among DCJ, the DA's office, the Oregon Judicial Department and community-based providers to operate the courts effectively.