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Wayne County advisory board approves $900,000 MDOC grant application to continue jail‑and‑community programs
Summary
The Wayne County Community Corrections Advisory Board approved a $900,000 FY2027 Michigan Department of Corrections grant application that keeps five core programs, adds jail‑and‑community delivery for continuity, and reallocates funds to boost utilization; board members also pressed for improved outreach, vendor coordination and data dashboards.
The Wayne County Community Corrections Advisory Board on May 21 approved the county’s FY2027 Michigan Department of Corrections grant application, a $900,000 request that seeks $630,000 for programming and $270,000 for administrative costs.
Lester Thomas, administrator of adult community corrections, said the application retains the existing set of vendors but asks that each program be delivered both inside jails and in the community so participants can begin treatment while incarcerated and continue it after release. “All these programs that we're requesting this year… everyone will be jail‑based and community‑based,” Thomas told the board.
Thomas said MDOC has identified three criminogenic needs for Wayne County—criminal personality (impulsivity/low empathy), vocational and educational deficits, and social isolation—and the proposed programming is designed to address those priorities. The application lists partner providers including Lacorage Village, the Center for Family Development (formerly Black Family Development), ETRS, Real Services Solutions (HEAT violence‑prevention curriculum), DWIN, Goodwill Industries, Wayne County Indigent Defense and Neighborhood Defender Services of Detroit.
Thomas described per‑vendor utilization and budget changes: Lacorage Village is projected for about 200 enrollments in FY27 (71 currently in 2026) with historically 80–85% utilization; Center for Family Development is projected for 50 enrollments (14 currently) and was reduced compared with FY26 because of low utilization but will add a life‑skills module and open to jail delivery; ETRS’s domestic‑violence program will include an anger‑management module; and Real Services Solutions’ HEAT violence‑prevention program was proposed at a reduced funding level ($55,000) with a projected 30 enrollments while outreach to prosecutors aims to increase referrals.
“The goal is… to increase utilization and maximize services across a continuum of care so everybody can continuously get care,” Thomas said.
Board members asked technical and operational questions before the vote. Dr. Kesha Allen pressed for clarity on why some vendor budgets were increased while others were reduced; Thomas said adjustments reflect prior utilization and planned program expansions that he expects will raise enrollment. Dr. Allen also raised a budget question about $29,000 listed for equipment and no contractual services for a planned outreach/branding website; Ebony McCann, vision director for transition services, said website and literature updates are being planned with IT and could be handled through transition services chargebacks rather than the contractual line item.
After discussion, Paul Bruno moved to approve the application; Arman Harris supported the motion. The board approved the application by voice vote. The motion carried.
What happens next: Thomas said the office will hold stakeholder/vendor meetings (a referral/stakeholder meeting was scheduled for May 21) and will work with judges, prosecutors and probation officers to improve awareness and referrals. He also told the board the county’s qualitative analysis team is developing dashboards and asked members for input on metrics they would like to see.
The board did not record a roll‑call vote; members approved the measure by voice, and the application will be submitted to the Michigan Department of Corrections per the board’s authorization.
