To Maintain Ohio's Special Docket Drug Courts.

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 7, the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services will be awarded $3,165,011 to improve both the treatment and criminal justice outcomes for offenders participating in family drug court. These outcomes include rearrest reduction, greater treatment completion, reduced use of alcohol and other drugs, and abstinence at program discharge. The purpose of the family drug courts is to improve treatment outcomes and increase family reunification. This project's main objective will be to preserve the jobs of staff members employed by the 23 drug court programs. Success will be measured by the number of jobs retained (by type) as a result of Recovery Act funding. Major deliverables under this project include maintaining project staff, maintaining continuity of services, attending required grantee meetings, submitting required programmatic and fiscal reports, and sustaining the project after the federal grant award.

CA/NCF