Billings Municipal Court currently operates three problem solving treatment courts solely on grant funding.  Billings Municipal Court has been awarded two grants to continue to fund a Mental Health Court and continue to expand these three treatment courts.  The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded funding for the Mental Health Court in the amount of $200,000 over a period of two years.  Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded funding to expand the current treatment courts in the amount of $971,630 over a period of three (3) years.  These grants will allow Municipal Court to continue to treat individuals convicted of multiple and varied misdemeanor offenses through a more specialized continuum. These grants also allow Billings Adult Misdemeanor Treatment Courts (BAMTC) to continue to treat individuals currently in the program so their treatment remains uninterrupted until graduation from the program.

The issue before Council is whether to accept or decline these grant funds with a combined total of $1,171,630 over a 2-3 year period awarded to BAMTC, in furtherance of the treatment court's mission.

The City Council may:

•  Accept the DOJ and SAMHSA grant monies, or
• Decline these awards.

These grants provide specific funding to treat individuals convicted of multiple misdemeanor offenses (i.e. theft, drug charges, etc.)within the limits of the City of Billings.  The funds from SAMHSA allow these indiviudals to have expanded services to make treatment more complete and balanced for their individual needs.  This will assist BAMTC to continue to grow and become a more effective program to achieve declining recidivism rates and greater successes at the completion of individual programs.

The grant awarded by the DOJ will allow better treatment services for those in need of a more specialized Mental Health treatment program, and will total $200,000 over the period of two years.  The City's soft match contribution will include the hours in which team members (i.e. prosecutor, public defender, pro tem judge) spend in court.  One 1.0 FTE Mental Health Court Coordinator/Case Manager  will be employed by the City of Billings, however salary and benefits are paid with the grant funds.  The treatment professionals, evaluator, and probation officer are secured through contract and paid by the grant.

Staff recommends that Council accept the $1,171,630 awarded by the DOJ and SAMHSA agencies and authorize Mayor Hanel to sign all necessary documents.