Mission:

“Coming together to create a collaborative system of care that promotes evidence-based practices and utilizes data analysis to improve criminal justice outcomes in our local community.”

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Based on legislation created by the State JRAC, HEA 1068, the Local JRAC Statue, was signed into law on April 8, 2021, requiring the establishment of a Local JRAC in every Indiana County.  The overarching goal of the Local JRAC is to examine and analyze local data and practices to improve criminal justice outcomes. Local JRACs are required: to promote the use of evidence-based and best practices in the areas of community-based sentencing alternatives and recidivism reduction; review, evaluate, and make recommendations about local practices (community-based corrections and jail overcrowding); compile reports as directed by the State JRAC communicate with the State JRAC to establish and implement best practices and to ensure consistent collection and reporting of data.

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In response, Cass County recently established our local Justice Advisory Council (JRAC) and are committed to coming together to review local practices and data to improve our local criminal justice system.

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One of the goals of the Cass County Local JRAC is to overcome silo approaches. Instead of each entity focusing solely on its piece of the process, the Cass County Local JRAC aims to foster a holistic view of the criminal justice system. This integrated approach
considers the consequences of actions on the efficiency of the entire process, the impact on other entities, and potential effects on community safety.

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Additionally, we work to combat compartmentalization within the criminal justice system. The Cass County Local JRAC strves to identify and address conflicting or duplicate processes that can arise when different parts of the system operate in isolation. By promoting collaboration and communication, these councils help to streamline processes, reduce inefficiencies, and optimize the use of limited local resources.

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System Improvement Goals & Performance Measures

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This past year, as part of our preparation for our first annual report submission, we collaboratively set the following goals after completing a system mapping:

• Develop data collection and reporting procedures to begin the practice of regularly reviewing data in efforts to improve outcomes.

• Increase collaboration and continuity of care in regards to client services, including expanded substance abuse and mental health programming for those on community supervision and in the Cass County Jail.

• Develop an agreed upon definition of recidivism and plan to begin collecting and measure the necessary data needed to generate a recidivism rate. 

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In addition to the above described goals, the Council set performance measures for each community supervision agency to begin reporting. Defined metrics include: Safety Rate, Violation Rate, Completion Rate, Drug Screen Positivity Rate and Program Participation Rate. To date, Pretrial Services, Community Corrections and Juvenile Probation are all reporting metrics and other statistical data.  

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Submit Opioid Settlement Funding Proposals Here:

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The Cass County Commissioners have appointed the Local JRAC Council to discuss, review and make recommendations regarding submitted proposals on how to best use our county's allocated funding from the Opioid Settlement. Proposals will be reviewed twice yearly, January and July, commencing July 2023. Proposal to be limited to a scope of a one year project, with eligibility for application for additional funding yearly and dependent on available funds. Proposals will be required to follow the abatement guidelines and not supplant other grant funded projects.

If you or your organization has a proposal regarding the use of Opioid Settlement Funding please click here to submit your request to the Local JRAC Council who will present it to Cass County Commissioners upon review. Download the proposal template here.