Legislation Details

File #: 26-4120    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 6/18/2026 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 7/9/2026 Final action: 7/9/2026
Title: Request by the Office of County Administration for approval to transfer grant funds in the amount of $100,000 from the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge Capstone Grant to District Courts Administration to support the Courtroom Peer Support Expansion Pilot.

Primary Department: County Administration

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Erica Lee Carter, County Administrator

 

Secondary Department: Choose an item.

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Transfer of Funds Only

 

Project ID (if applicable): GY25_MACCAPSTON

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  Choose an item.

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request by the Office of County Administration for approval to transfer grant funds in the amount of $100,000 from the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge Capstone Grant to District Courts Administration to support the Courtroom Peer Support Expansion Pilot.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

The Office of County Administration proposes transferring $250,000 from the Office of County Administration (OCA) budget to the District Courts Administration (DCA) budget to expand peer support capacity, leveraging the DCA's existing peer support program implementation and subject-matter expertise. $150,000 will come from OCA general fund dollars previously dedicated to this purpose, and $100,000 will come from the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge Capstone Grant awarded in 2024. The Courtroom Peer Support Expansion Pilot is staffed by peer support specialists and case management staff from the Houston Recovery Center who promote community safety and improve defendants' likelihood of success in the community by connecting them with available community resources.

 

Expected Impact:

This funding transfer will allow DCA to expand the Courtroom Peer Support Expansion Pilot, hire additional peer support specialists, and provide case management support for two felony courts.

 

 

Alternative Options:

To not expand the Courtroom Peer Support Expansion Pilot Program.

 

 

 

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  1. Make Harris County safer and more just.

County Strategic Plan Objective: B: Reduce criminal legal system exposure that does not advance public safety.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):   B1: Increase the use of effective and efficient deflection responses using non-criminal justice resources for non-violent behaviors, particularly those primarily related to substance use, mental health, poverty, and homelessness.B1

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  Choose an item.

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.

Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

 

 

 

 

Location:

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Countywide

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

Courtroom Peer Support Expansion Pilot

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

Grant MacArthur Foundation

$100,000

$

$100,000

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$

$

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

$

$

Total Funding Sources

$

$

$

$

Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only)

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

No. of Grant Years

Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$

$

$

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only)

CAO Reviewer Name and Title

 

CAO Review Completion Date

Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Anticipated Court Date: 7/9/2026

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Karen Evans, Justice Innovation Manager

 

Attachments (if applicable):