Newark Community Solutions Pretrial Assessment and Supportive Services

Justice Innovation Inc. doing business as Center for Court Innovation (Center) seeks $1,000,000 over three years under BJA’s FY 2022 Field Initiated: Encouraging Innovation solicitation to expand Newark Community Solutions’ Pre-Trial Assessment and Supportive Services (NCS-PASS) program. The proposed project’s overarching goal is to expand pre-trial programming delivered within the systems-change framework and establish a universal screening and case management program available to all individuals released pre-trial from the Essex County Correctional Facility (ECCF).

Through NCS-PASS, defendants, including those with substance use disorders, interested in receiving pre-trial community support will be able to opt into a pre-release assessment followed by community-based case management and coordination with defense counsel. At the systems level, NCS-PASS will expedite linkages to existing diversion initiatives within Essex County, NJ. Through committee meetings and community outreach, the project will integrate the voices of all stakeholders and utilize lessons learned to inform program development and relationships. NCS will partner with Jomoworks, which will serve as the independent evaluator for this project.

NCS is seeking priority consideration under 1(A) (see page 11 of the narrative). The majority of participants served through NCS-PASS will be Black due to the racial composition of the ECCF—a product of systemic racism, among a multitude of other factors. The program will consider how universal service delivery could mitigate the impact of systemic racism by eliminating disparities which can be perpetuated by the legal and clinical criteria associated with most diversion programs.  
The program seeks $1 million and anticipates that 25% of the budget will be allocated to Accelerating Justice through Approaches and Tools to Identify Levers for Change, 30% to Increasing Diversion, particularly at the Pre-Trial Phase; 15% to Enhancing Collaboration across justice, behavioral health and public health for those with mental health and/or substance use issues; 15% to Improving Relationships between Communities and Criminal Justice System through increased access; and 15% to Addressing Substance Use Disorders/Substance Use-Related Crimes.