The Williamson County Transformative Justice program has received a $15,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. According to the county, this grant will support enhancements to the mental health services available to program participants.
“I’m deeply grateful to the Texas Bar Foundation for approving this grant,” said District Judge Stacey Mathews, who presides over the TJ program. “These funds will make a real difference for our program as we work to transform young lives and make a positive impact on our community.”
The TJ program is a 10 to 18-month intensive diversionary program that is designed to work with 17 to 24-year-olds who are charged with non-violent felony offenses. The program provides personalized case management and early intervention to meet participants where they are. Program partners learn about the participants’ journeys and help them to address their substance abuse issues, educational and vocational challenges and mental health issues.
Successful graduates from the program are eligible to have their charges dismissed and their records expunged.
“It is easy to lose sight of the fact that individuals facing criminal charges remain a part of our community,” said Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick. “I am proud to support a program that works to keep our community safe while helping participants so that they can make a positive contribution going forward.”
The program is focused on reducing recidivism for young adults in order to change the trajectory of their lives.
“Through this randomized control study, we believe the TJ program will show that investing in personal case management and mental health services early-on can reduce recidivism rates and decrease the number of people introduced into the criminal justice system in our community,” said Judge Mathews.
The Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably funded bar foundation.
