Juvenile Justice Program lands $1 million grant

The Williamson County Transformative Justice Program received praise during Tuesday’s commissioners court meeting.

The 277th District’s Judge Stacey Mathews, Program Director Terence Davis and Scott Matthew, juvenile services executive director, provided program updates to commissioners.

They shared that the program received a $1 million grant from the United States Department of Justice.

“This grant will allow us to continue and even expand [our] good work,” Ms. Mathews said. “We are able to impact justice-involved young adults in a way that promotes public safety and strengthens the next generation of our community’s leaders.”

The Transformative Justice Program works with non-violent felony offenders between the ages of 17 and 24. It gives people a chance to work with case managers and early intervention specialists to help redirect their lives for the better. The program also teaches life skills to prepare participants for success in the community after graduation. Program graduates are eligible to have their charges dismissed and removed from their records.

The program is a collaborative effort of Williamson County district courts, juvenile services, the Defense Bar and the county district attorney’s office.

“In this program, we serve young adults who are at a crossroads and we are able to help them choose the right path,” Mr. Davis said. “Beyond that, because our program includes partners in and outside of government, we are able to show our participants the benefits that come with being a positive part of the larger community.”

The $1 million grant will provide programmatic support and ongoing opportunities for Wilco youth.

“This grant would not have been possible without the support of our friends in the Health Foundation and the Bar Foundation, who rightly recognized that we all win when we have this kind of collaboration,” Mr. Matthew said. “We are at our best when we work together with community organizations.”

The program benefits the whole community, County Judge Bill Gravell said.

“Public safety is a priority in this county,” he said. “Through the [Transformative Justice] program, we work with young adults and help them to overcome their challenges and grow in a positive direction. This lets us live out our commitment to keeping Williamson County a safe and thriving community.”