LAWTON –With the support of Comanche County officials, the Oklahoma City-based nonprofit Oklahoma Alliance for Resources and Recovery is seeking a federal grant to cover the cost of establishing a diversion program, which would help people who are charged with certain crimes address the behavior that led to their arrest.
With little discussion, the Board of Comanche County Commissioners voted 3-0 Jan. 13 to approve an agreement between the county and OKARR for the project, as well as a letter of support. The county’s criminal justice system and OKARR are planning to work together on a federally funded project designed to improve services for at stabilizing children and adults in crisis and helping them re-enter their community through a diversion program.
Diversion programs aim to assist people who are accused of certain crimes receive treatment and avoid jail time. The goal is to help them correct their behavior.
The agreement calls for the county to share information about efforts to address the state’s opioid crisis and reform the criminal justice system. The county will also participate in planning and oversight meetings related to the diversion program, which will include the Comanche County jail administrator.
OKARR will serve as the lead applicant and administrator for the grant, implement the project in line with the county’s existing programs and report progress and results to county officials, according to the agreement.
The partnership between the county and OKARR gives them a chance to bolster efforts to address the opioid crisis and reform the criminal justice system, the commissioners said in their Jan. 13 letter or support.
“This project will specifically jumpstart the diversion hub program, a priority initiative, creating a coordinated and systemic approach to diversion services in Comanche County,” they said. “This collaboration will improve outcomes, reduce recidivism, and further our efforts to improve service delivery for individuals with serious mental illness, substance abuse disorders and co-occurring disorders.”