Berkeley County community corrections reports rising participation, lower recidivism than national average
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Summary
Community corrections director presented program metrics: roughly 400 active participants, about 2,400 monthly drug screens, 65 completions in fiscal year 2024 and 39 so far this year; the office reports a five‑year recidivism of about 29% for program graduates versus national 77%.
Jim Zaya, director of community corrections, presented the day report center and related program budgets and performance data to the commission. Zaya said the day report center averaged about 400 active participants over recent months and performed roughly 2,400 drug screens per month. He reported 65 successful program completions in fiscal year 2023–24 and 39 so far in fiscal 2024–25.
Zaya described the day report center as a cost‑saving alternative to incarceration, citing work with municipal courts and an increase in referrals from Jefferson County courts. He said the program’s five‑year recidivism rate for graduates—calculated by tracking arrests post‑graduation—was about 29 percent, which he contrasted with a 77 percent figure cited from the Bureau of Justice Statistics for state inmates released from prison.
The presentation detailed revenue sources (grants and Medicaid billing), fee structures (the DUI treatment course fee of $400 set by the state DMV), and program costs. Zaya said grants and billings offset roughly $2.5 million of a roughly $4.5 million day report center budget, with grants funding about 25% of operating costs in the coming fiscal year.
Commissioners thanked staff and asked about timelines to scale programs and the extent of state reimbursement. Zaya noted uncertainty around some federal grant renewals and urged continued local support of alternatives to incarceration.
Next steps: The commission recorded the report for budget review and asked staff to follow up on outstanding Medicaid reimbursements and grant renewal timelines.