Criminal Justice Peer Specialists providing support for juveniles and adults involved in the Sarasota County criminal justice system.

Sarasota County proposes to implement a criminal justice peer specialist program. The purpose is to expand case management and peer support services to juvenile and adults involved in the criminal justice system. Project activities include expanding case management and peer support services to juvenile offenders with civil citations sanctioned to the Sarasota Teen Court Program and establishing an evidenced-based mental wellness program to incarcerated adults with mental illness in the Sarasota County Jail. Expected outcomes include development and implementation of an evidenced-based mental wellness program for adult inmates, provision of case management and peer support services, reduction of recidivism, increased mental wellness and quality of life for offenders, and increased public safety for the community.