Potter County Today

Potter County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) members approved the basic elements of their 2019 strategic plan last week, setting the stage for formal adoption at the panel’s next meeting. It’s a detailed document that identifies the issues, challenges, priorities and steps that will be taken as the many elements of the county’s criminal justice system work together to improve outcomes. CJAB officers, re-elected at last week’s meeting, are: Judge Stephen Minor, chairman; Commissioner Paul Heimel, vice chairman; and Colleen Wilber, Potter County Human Services, administrator. Overall goals in the CJAB action plan for the new year include:

• Continued work on a Pretrial Diversion Program for Potter County and development of more comprehensive re-entry services for inmates being released from the county jail.
• Partnering with the National Data-Driven Justice Initiative to measure effectiveness and outcomes of criminal justice strategies, better inform decision-makers, and improve information sharing.
• Continued collaboration for early education programs to identify and address the rise in juvenile anti-social behavior/mental health and criminal activity.
• Transitional/half-way housing for offenders along with an increased focus on skills training and employment needs.
• Partnering with the National Stepping Up Initiative for criminal offenders with identified mental health issues.