$1.1 million state grant to help Trumbull Courts reduce recidivism

Staff report

WARREN

Trumbull County Common Pleas Court has been awarded a $1.1 million Smart Ohio grant for recidivism reduction programs over the next two years.

State Rep. Sean O’Brien of Bazetta, D-63rd, announced the award.

The grant comes as part of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s statewide plan to find community-based alternative sentencing for nonviolent offenders.

“The sheer number of incarcerated people is stretching resources thin and starting to overwhelm correctional institutions both in our state and around the country,” O’Brien said.

Smart Ohio grant money will be used to supplement supervision and treatment costs, improve treatment resources, support specialty dockets and increase mental heath and substance-abuse treatment programs for nonviolent offenders.

“With the recent surge in heroin and opioid overdoses in Trumbull County, employing more resources to treat drug addiction is invaluable,” O’Brien said.

Smart Ohio grants require the grantee to establish goals to reduce prison incarceration as well as submit quarterly fiscal and performance reports to track progress.