The Texas Bar Foundation has awarded a $12,500 grant to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office to continue providing reliable transportation for youth navigating the criminal justice system.
The grant will fund transportation vouchers for people in the Achieve Inspire Motivate court, a pre-sentence diversion program for first-time felony offenders ages 18 to 24. Many AIM participants may lack accessible transportation or experience homelessness or unemployment. Dallas' sprawl and limited public transportation can make it nearly impossible for some people to remain compliant with the program, the DA's office said in a news release.
Transportation vouchers help remove these socio-economic and geographic barriers, making it easier for people to attend court-ordered residential drug treatment, counseling, community service, and meetings and hearings with case managers. .
“Receiving this funding means we will continue our important work in Dallas County and send a message that we care about young offenders and want to see them make meaningful changes in their lives. ” District Attorney John Clouzot said in a statement. “This funding will go directly into the future of our communities, ensuring we break the cycle of recidivism and reducing costs to taxpayers in the process.”
A study commissioned by the Attorney General's Office and conducted by the Meadows Institute for Mental Health Policy found that AIM participants were 74 more likely to be arrested for a new crime two years after starting the program than those on probation. % was low.
The study, published in 2021, found that the program saved participants and the legal system $6.86 for every dollar invested.
AIM was founded in 2016 by then DA Susan Hawke and continued by her successor. The 12-18 month program focuses on employment and education. A participant must complete her GED and find a job before graduating. Once they graduate, the charges will be dismissed or dismissed, according to a news release from the DA's office.
More than 220 people have graduated from the program since its inception, according to a news release.
The Texas Bar Foundation awarded the first $10,750 transportation voucher grant to the prosecutor's office in 2022, according to the group's website.
