<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Segoe UI";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoNoSpacing, li.MsoNoSpacing, div.MsoNoSpacing
{mso-style-priority:1;
margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
p.xxxxmsonormal, li.xxxxmsonormal, div.xxxxmsonormal
{mso-style-name:x_x_x_xmsonormal;
margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5312in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D8A714.EBAC6D00"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Aug. 3, 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxmsonormal"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="xxxxmsonormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Idaho seeks to reduce crime by investing in drug treatment and mental health services</span></u></b><span style="font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Boise, Idaho – The State of Idaho is taking steps to make Idaho safer and save taxpayer dollars by increasing drug treatment and mental health services in Idaho communities as part of Governor
Brad Little’s “Leading Idaho” plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Through the new Pre-prosecution Diversion Grant Program, the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) is offering $2.5 million worth of funding to state and local government agencies. The money
will be used to help people accused of nonviolent crimes avoid prosecution by addressing the mental health and substance-use disorders that are driving their criminal behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“Idaho is made an even better place to live when we can improve safety in communities across our great state,” Governor Little said. “My ‘Leading Idaho’ plan for enhanced behavioral health
resources for Idahoans is making Idaho safer while helping those in need and saving taxpayer dollars in the long run.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“This program will reduce crime, help people turn around their lives and save taxpayer dollars,” says IDOC Director Josh Tewalt. “By investing in drug treatment and mental health services
on the front end we can avoid spending money on prosecution, incarceration and community supervision on the back end.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">People who successfully complete a program funded by a Pre-prosecution Diversion Grant will also avoid the stigma of having a criminal record, which can make it more difficult to get a job
and find housing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The Pre-prosecution Diversion Grant Program was a recommendation of the three-branch Behavioral Health Council. Governor Little adopted the recommendation as part of his Leading Idaho plan
which expanded behavioral health resources by $50 million in Idaho. The Governor's request was fully funded by the Legislature and included in IDOC budget.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">More information about the program, including how local and state agencies can apply for a grant, is available
<a href="https://www.idoc.idaho.gov/path-file/246">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor’s press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail
</span></i><a href="mailto:Madison.Hardy@gov.idaho.gov"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Madison.Hardy@gov.idaho.gov</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to
</span></i><a href="mailto:news@gov.idaho.gov"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">news@gov.idaho.gov</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>