York County has one of the highest incarceration rates in the state.
York County Press Release
YORK COUNTY – York County Attorney Gary Olson announced to the York County Commissioners this past week he has been notified his office has been awarded a $1.3 million federal grant for the creation of an adult diversion program in York County.
“This program will be unique in that it will require participants to have a (drug/alcohol) evaluation upfront. The process (of creating this new program) has started,” Olson said.
“So you will have to develop the program, correct?” asked Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier.
“This is for us to develop the entire program,” Olson said. “We are working with other entities to put this program to life, and other stakeholders are also at the table. This program is to make our community better and safer, to lead us all in the direction we can people help where it’s needed. I appreciate the support of the board.”
As Olson explained when he applied for the grant, this money will be awarded over a 3-year period with his office receiving $443,000 a year for the program’s implementation. He said the program’s intent is to combat the use of illicit drugs in York County, which he has called “a very serious problem.”
He said a 2022 study shows incarceration in Nebraska has vastly grown, as has the prison population. The costs associated with incarcerating people have grown exponentially, yet recidivism has also increased.
“Regarding York County – the York County Jail – the bookings in the last year numbered 656, and half of those were from the City of York,” Olson said. “York County, for its size, has an extraordinarily high rate of crime.”
Olson said York County is tied with another county for the highest incarceration rate in the state.
“The program I’m trying to start with these funds will hopefully bite into what the study found about our county,” Olson said. “York’s location, with Interstate 80 and Highway 81, makes it a major transportation hub. And while that brings a lot to the economy, it also brings challenges regarding crime in this region. It brings a host of issues York County has to deal with. This program takes that into account. We are seeking to create a program to provide resources to respond to illicit substance abuse. This crisis impacts many aspects of our community. This is to help those who have been affected, with community-based sources and strategies to help with treatment and recovery programs. The program I want to do is an adult diversion program. The primary focus is to get services to individuals pre-booking. The focus is to give people opportunities as soon as possible. Hopefully, we will see a reduction in crime in York County.”
