Scott County's specialty courts -- treatment court and veterans court -- delivered a progress update to the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18, describing program operations, recent eligibility changes and outcomes.

Robin Schultz (program coordinator) and Judge Carrie Lennon said the program screens referrals using a high-risk/high-needs framework (RANT and LCMI assessments), takes referrals from the jail, public defender, county attorney and community providers, and focuses on participants judged to need intensive wraparound services. The panel noted statutory changes in 2024 expanded eligibility and that reduced mandatory minimums for some offenses make treatment-court diversion an important alternative to prison for high-risk clients.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys described the program as a "safety valve" that helped avoid prison for certain defendants by providing intensive supervision, treatment and support designed to reduce recidivism. Probation officers and law enforcement described curfew checks and field contacts as tools for accountability and relationship-building: Captain Jamie Pearson said curfew checks are an opportunity to "build the relationship" and that officers sometimes become ongoing sources of support.

Panelists emphasized housing as a pivotal factor. The county's three "transformation houses" (two male, one recently opened female house) have helped participants secure stable housing and remain under county supervision. Program staff gave anonymized examples of clients who were formerly homeless and using daily but, within months of program participation, were sober, housed, in treatment and employed.

The veterans court team described a mentor program that pairs incoming veterans with volunteer veteran mentors in the community for peer support; the panel also discussed partnerships across the First Judicial District to pool resources and allow district-wide calendars for veterans and treatment dockets.

Panelists said they are pursuing a national All Rise operational tune-up and a concurrent third-party evaluation; staff proposed a deeper workshop for the board in January to review evaluation findings and metrics.

Next steps: staff will continue outreach to the public defender and county attorney to increase referrals where appropriate, proceed with the All Rise review and present the third-party evaluation data at a January board workshop.