WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — Williamson County was awarded $308,728 by the Indigent Defense Commission to support the defense component of an innovative alternative to incarceration program for emerging adults, according to a press release.
The supported program establishes a formal diversionary option to the criminal justice system for emerging adults charged with a felony offense and connects individuals with services through a localized, integrated program structured to support positive health and safety outcomes that reduce continued justice system involvement, the release states.
"There's a lot of these low-level crimes that they come in as a felony, and it really makes it that much more difficult for someone to get a job get a place to live, have a career, go to college," said District Attorney Shawn Dick.
“It would be nice if people make poor decisions at 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 even, that they ought to be able to escape that at some point in their life to be productive, otherwise we’re going to continue to fund them, either in the criminal justice system from incarceration or because they’re not able to get a job," said Scott Matthew, the executive director of Williamson County Juvenile Services.
The Lone Star Justice Alliance was awarded the contract to administer this program. To date, the Lone Star Justice Alliance and its partners have secured $607,000 in donations so Williamson County can expand opportunities for young adults through the program.
“Williamson County’s tough on crime, and we will always be tough on crime but for those that make that first offense at a young age, if we can help them to get on the right path, it’s good for our community, it’s good for that young adult, and it’s good for Texas," said County Judge Bill Gravell.
County officials said emerging adults -- ages 17 to 24 -- are over-represented in the adult criminal justice system in Texas.
“The big thing that I think it will provide for those folks who are successful in the program is that they won’t have a criminal history that will follow them moving forward," said Matthew.
In 2012, emerging adults made up 10 percent of the United States population, but comprised 29 percent of arrests, and 21 percent of people admitted into adult prisons across the country, according to the county's press release. More than 75 percent of justice-involved emerging adults recidivate, the highest short-term recidivism rate of any age group, and emerging adults sentenced to a term of probation are revoked at a rate three times higher than older adults, the release states.
"We're not trying to excuse their criminal behavior but a lot of times they just need people to help support them in recovery, a lot of times and we think we can do that," said Matthew.
“The Second Chance Community Improvement Program ensures individuals most at risk for ongoing involvement with the criminal justice system are given the support they need to remain positively engaged with their communities,” said Gravell. “Critical to my vote was the commitment by our health and human service providers to address the needs of these young people in the community. Their support and willingness to tackle these issues will be essential for this program to succeed.”
“As a county that cares deeply about the public safety and health outcomes of its citizens, it is time for us to explore innovative programs that will better address these young people,” said Williamson County Judge Stacey Mathews. “This alternative to incarceration program will provide substance abuse and mental illness treatment and connect people with criminal justice histories to jobs and education, all while saving taxpayer dollars every year.”
“We’ve got to hold those that are accountable for serious crimes, and we have to take criminal offenses seriously, but the opportunity to help someone get headed on the right path, I think that’s what justice is," said Gravell.
The financial support comes after the release of the Lone Star Justice Alliance report, Transformative Justice: A Developmental Approach to System-Involved Emerging Adults, which outlines the ways Texas counties can better serve emerging adults. Williamson County officials said this report identifies the ways in which emerging adults are more vulnerable to justice system involvement than older adults, the best evidence-based intervention strategies for emerging adults, and an approach for meeting the needs of emerging adults in their communities to produce positive health and public safety outcomes for all residents in Texas.
“The report highlights the need for a strong infrastructure of community-based programs that provide training, counseling, education, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health services, anger management, family and parenting services and other essential tools that help defendants find employment and housing and to live stable crime-free lives,” said Dick. “Through expanded diversion opportunities, transitional services and more, we can lower recidivism rates, while holding these young people accountable for their misdeeds. This will ultimately save our county dollars by providing alternatives to incarceration. As the elected district attorney for Williamson County, I thank everyone involved for their dedication to reforming offenders and increasing public safety.”
"Services that we do for juveniles seem to be working and then somehow we're missing this group," said Mathews.
“Williamson County Juvenile Services is honored to serve as a partner in this innovative program,” stated Matthew. “We believe we have developed a robust infrastructure that includes a wide variety of community supports, a focus on trauma-informed care, developmental relationships and client accountability that will support successful outcomes for this population.”