April 2016 CJAB Meeting Summary

President Judge, and CJAB Chair, Carol Van Horn called the meeting to order and facilitated introductions.

The first agenda item to endorse the Franklin County Reentry Strategic Plan was discussed and unanimously approved. The CJAB will now be looking to the Reentry Coalition to carry out the endorsed initiatives. As the success of the Franklin County Reentry Coalition rests in the collaboration of community, county and courts, a Reentry Summit is coordinated for Monday, May 16 at King Street Church to educate and engage the public on the reentry process and the barriers that reentrants face.

Steve Nevada, Administrator of Franklin County Mental Health/ Intellectual Disability/ Early Intervention presented an update on “Franklin County’s Trauma-Informed Strategic Plan.” The completion of plan action items is representative of successful department and agency collaboration within the County.

The Grants Department reported that a Request for Proposals was released for Franklin County Reentry Coalition coordination/management. Grant applications that have been submitted are as follows: Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT); Intermediate Punishment (IP); and Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) for updating Megan’s Law equipment. Other grant possibilities being discussed: Pre-trial Drug & Alcohol Diversion; Problem Solving Court; and the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG).

Carrie Gray, Assistant County Administrator, reported that a group from Franklin County attended the state CJAB Conference in State College, PA, and noted that Franklin County seems to be in line with implementing best practices.

Franklin County was one of three PA counties, and one of 50 nationwide, to be selected to attend the Stepping Up Conference in Washington DC in April. The goal of the conference was to reduce the number of individuals in jail with substance use disorders. Though Franklin County is ahead on some initiatives that larger counties are just now starting, the conference brought attention to the need for enhancing County-wide data collection.

Announcements included a Town Hall scheduled for May 11 at the Rec Center on 3rd Street in Chambersburg at 6:30pm.

Find the minutes from the April 2016 meeting here.

The next meeting of the Franklin County Criminal Justice Advisory Board will be held on June 23, 2016 at 12 PM in the 3rd Floor Jury Assembly Room at the Franklin County Courthouse.

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