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Klamath County Community Corrections scales back Justice Reinvestment requests, plans facility closures
Summary
Community Corrections director Erin Hartman told commissioners July 22 that the county will not apply for a supplemental Justice Reinvestment grant due to fewer eligible cases and constrained funding, will reduce funded deputy positions under the formula grant, and plans to close Busby House and end a contract with a behavioral-health provider.
Erin Hartman, director of Klamath County Community Corrections, updated the Board of Commissioners July 22 on the county—s Justice Reinvestment Program applications and related program and facility changes.
Hartman said the county will not apply for the supplemental JRP grant because staff determined there are not enough eligible cases and funding to make the supplemental program viable. She said the evidence-based program had focused on drug, property and driving offenses and that the county currently has about five active participants remaining in that program; staff plan to wind down that work by December this year.
Hartman said the formula grant application will move forward but with reduced funding. She described a reduction from four deputy positions to three funded positions through the sheriff—s office and said her department would not fund a fifth position, leaving three positions allowed under the grant as presented.
As a result of the funding changes, Hartman said Community Corrections will close the Busby House and will end the county—s contract with Climate Peace and Behavioral Health. Staff are exploring options to keep the Bisbee House open under an alternative supervisory arrangement, but Hartman said no viable plan had yet been finalized. She also raised concerns about vandalism at vacant properties and said the county must maintain the property as transitional housing to comply with grant terms through the spring of 2028, if applicable.
Hartman referenced House Bill 369, saying the governor had signed the bill but that rule writing had not yet occurred and that implementation timing remained uncertain; staff intends to monitor rulemaking and follow any required application processes.
Why it matters: The changes will reduce program capacity, close a transitional housing site and end a behavioral-health contract, which staff said could affect supervised populations and local service delivery. The board received the update; no formal board action was recorded in the transcript.
