Criminal Justice Collaborating Council reports program growth, new diversion and re‑entry work

Sarah Benedict, the county’s criminal justice director, and Judge Christina (Chris) Meyer presented the Criminal Justice Collaborating Council’s annual report and highlighted three goals achieved in 2025: expanding law‑enforcement deflection/diversion partnerships, strengthening jail treatment and re‑entry services, and enhancing treatment and family treatment courts.

Benedict said the CJCC now includes a law enforcement deflection and diversion worker in both the sheriff’s office and Monomony police department, a therapeutic community pod in the jail to support treatment readiness, and enhanced re‑entry planning to link people leaving custody to housing, treatment and employment resources. She described grant‑funded positions, peer‑support liaisons and evidence‑based models used in treatment courts.

The council also worked on DNA collection and a warrant‑fee process to clear backlogs and improve front‑end collection; Benedict said process mapping and a workgroup produced short‑ and long‑term recommendations. The CJCC assumed duties for the county’s crime‑prevention funding board and established an application and review process to distribute local crime‑prevention grants.

Judge Meyer said the county’s treatment and family treatment courts are recognized models and the CJCC’s collaborative structure has attracted other counties asking for assistance. Board members praised improvements, noted recidivism and completion metrics in the packet, and observed that the programs generate financial and social return on investment.

Benedict and Judge Meyer urged continuing investment in evidence‑based practices and grants that seed ongoing programming.