Marquette Regional Community Corrections officials pitched a collaborative program to Houghton County leaders that could transform how the region handles criminal justice services.
At the end of April, the Houghton County Jail Committee invited Marquette Regional Community Corrections to explain how joining the program could benefit communities in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties.
Trevor Kadlec, Community Corrections Director for Marquette County, said the organization wants to unite the Upper Peninsula’s counties in a Community Corrections Program. The initiative would provide pretrial services, treatment court operations, jail population management and access to evidence-based programs for individuals involved in the justice system.
The program’s pretrial services would allow those awaiting trial to be released while subject to appropriate monitoring. This includes regular drug testing, electronic devices and regular check-ins with program officers.
The three counties would receive these services at no cost through Michigan Department of Corrections grant funding. Counties would only need to commit a member of the board of commissioners to serve on an appointed regional board that would meet six times annually in Marquette.
The Houghton County Board of Commissioners expects additional information from jail committees in May. At the April regular meeting, Commissioner Joel Keranen told colleagues he expects a property assessment of Canal View would occur later in the month. He said he would present details from the county-held properties committee report in May.
The Houghton County Jail Committee will continue analyzing the project this month at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 14, at 4 p.m.
Those interested in staying updated on the Houghton County Jail Project can find committee reports online, including a 15-page report discussed in April.
