Missouri Treatment Court Expansion and Enhancement Project

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, Missouri Office of State Courts Administrators will use funds to enhance the capacity and operational effectiveness of Missouri's treatment courts by using the following strategies: expanding statewide treatment court services and supervision by adding additional participants; implementing an evidence-based offender assessment system; and providing interdisciplinary training and onsite technical support for treatment court professionals. The key deliverables and coordination efforts will include issuing supplemental contracts to Missouri's treatment courts to allow offenders to be diverted from the Missouri Department of Corrections, resulting in jobs; contracting with Treatment Research Institute to develop a risk and needs assessment system that will be incorporated into the existing statewide court case management system, which will enhance offender outcomes and support operational efficiencies; contracting with the Missouri Association of Drug Court Professionals to develop a multidisciplinary curriculum for court professionals; and evaluating grant activities.

CA/NCF