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Lancaster County approves $459,724 in justice-related grants and a $140,000 UNL data-analysis contract
Summary
The Board accepted a $99,655 Justice Assistance grant, a $220,069 Bureau of Justice Assistance grant to support reentry services, and approved a $140,000 contract with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for juvenile and adult justice data analysis.
Lancaster County commissioners on June 30 approved three funding actions and a temporary software purchase intended to support criminal justice and reentry services.
The Board accepted a Justice Assistance grant award of $99,655 from the Nebraska Crime Commission to fund the narcotics investigator assigned to the County Narcotics Task Force. Sara Sump, Sheriff’s Department Business Manager, said the grant "funds the narcotics investigator" and that the award would cover most of that position's cost for the coming year. The motion to accept the grant carried 5-0.
The Board also accepted a Bureau of Justice Assistance award of $220,069, which Human Services Administrator Sara Hoyle said will support reentry services including peer support, partial residential treatment, supportive housing and treatment assistance for individuals incarcerated for substance-related offenses. Hoyle clarified that these funds support a separate program and "recent operational changes would not affect the services supported by this award." The motion carried 5-0.
Separately, the Board approved a $140,000 contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Law Psychology Program to analyze juvenile and adult justice data. Hoyle said the analysis will help agencies better understand factors that lead individuals into the justice system. The contract term is July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, and was approved 5-0.
The Board also authorized a temporary subscription for AIMS Specialty Court case management software from Catalis Courts & Land Records LLC for Community Corrections, with first-year costs not to exceed $18,421.26, while staff evaluate a long-term vendor. Jeff Kilpatrick, Community Corrections Director, said the temporary system is needed because the County's intended transition vendor was not yet ready and the system will support reliable operational data and court reminders to reduce failure-to-appear rates. The motion to approve the subscription carried 5-0.
All items passed on unanimous recorded votes at the June 30 meeting. The Board's approvals are intended to sustain program staffing, data analysis and reentry services that county staff and partners said are critical amid funding changes at other levels of government.
