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Coconino County officials outline diversion, treatment and early‑intervention work to curb incarceration
Summary
County prosecutors, defense counsel and presiding judge briefed the Flagstaff City Council on programs that aim to 'intercept' people earlier in the justice process — from the juvenile HOPE Receiving Center to adult diversion, the Exodus jail‑inside treatment program, Pathways reentry and specialty treatment courts — highlighting program costs, success rates and persistent funding gaps.
County prosecutors, defenders and judges presented a coordinated view of Coconino County’s criminal‑justice approach at the Flagstaff City Council work session on Jan. 13, telling council members that local programs focus on diverting people from jails and prisons into treatment and services.
“Once someone is booked in the jail, there's a 24 hour clock that starts for a felony where someone needs to see a judge within that 24 hours,” County Attorney Ammon Barker said, describing the initial appearance and charging process. Barker told the council his office applies an ethical standard — “a reasonable likelihood of conviction” — before filing charges.
Defense counsel Joseph Carver described the stressors defendants face and how plea decisions are reached, noting that the vast majority of…
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