Task force weighs reentry services, OASIS treatment expansion, alternatives to incarceration and data shortfalls

The task force spent significant time discussing reentry supports, substance‑use assessment capacity and program alternatives that could reduce jail days.

Speakers described existing work: GED classes in the jail, prior OAR workshops for female inmates, and programs that help inmates complete DMV, child‑support and benefits paperwork prior to release. OAR and other service providers emphasized that client‑service staff shortages reduce the ability to process applications and prepare released people for appointments; one presenter said restoring a lost FTE could enable roughly 10–12 additional bails per year and generate estimated county savings from avoided board‑out costs.

On substance‑use treatment, a provider representative proposed exploring designation of an additional full OASIS treatment site rather than one‑off jail assessments. The representative argued a licensed OASIS site could bill Medicaid, Medicare or insurance and therefore be more sustainable than grant‑only arrangements. Members noted supervision, grant reporting and staffing questions would need resolution.

Alternatives to incarceration were discussed, including prior RICS/bricks programs and day‑reporting. Participants outlined eligibility criteria (exclude violent offenders) and suggested piloting weekend/intermittent sentencing or supervised community service for low‑level weekend sentences; some cautioned that community‑service alternatives must remain meaningfully punitive or restorative in the eyes of the court.

Practical limits of electronic monitoring were also flagged: battery charging, housing status (homeless individuals lacking charging access) and reliability concerns mean monitoring would be appropriate only for selected low‑flight‑risk defendants. The group discussed compensation, supervision and who would staff expanded programs.

Finally, multiple members said a major impediment to assessing diversion potential is a lack of integrated county data showing how many arrests result in appearance tickets versus bookings. DCJS data exist but are incomplete and depend on local reporting; volunteers offered to assist redacted record review. The task force asked staff to identify accessible data sources and to quantify the feasibility of a volunteer audit before the next working meeting.