Dane County Receives Grant to Reduce Racial Disparities

April 15, 2011
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606; or Colleen Clark, Office of Equal Opportunity (608) 266-3022
County Executive

Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance Awards Dane County Jail Inmate Re-entry Grant

 

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today a $87,866 receipt of grant award aimed at filling gaps in mental health services for individuals to be released from Dane County Jail.  The grant is provided under the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Implementation Award from the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance (OJA).

 

The Dane County Mental Health Jail Team will identify individuals with mental health needs whose return to the community will be more successful if they received case management and wrap-around services.  These individuals road to recovery will be enhanced by therapy and recovery principles.  Over the course of 12 months, over 50 recently released individuals will be served.  The program will focus on people of color returning to our community with the tools necessary to become a healthy and productive resident of Dane County.  Referrals will be made to the Mental Health Center of Dane County, Inc.’s Ujima Program.

 

The net effects of this award will reduced recidivism, reduced homelessness, and increase stability via housing and employment, as well as increasing public safety.

 

“With the alarming rates of jail inmates with mental health and AODA issues, providing this service will help confront the issue on an individual success and also help prevent their return to jail,” Falk said. 

 

This grant award is part of an ongoing effort to reduce the racial disparities in the Dane County criminal justice system through the Dane County  Implementation Team. The Dane County Criminal Justice Council is made up of the County Executive, County Board Chair, Sheriff, District Attorney, Chief Judge and Clerk of Courts.  Members of the Council support the initiative brought to OJA by the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) staff.

 

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