Nevada judicial panel approves $3M for 34 specialty courts statewide
CARSON CITY — A Nevada judicial panel has approved $3 million in funding for 34 specialty courts statewide, including new funding for three specialty courts in Las Vegas, Reno and Sparks.
Specialty courts are designed to help offenders overcome underlying causes of criminal behavior, with many focusing on drug and alcohol abuse or mental illness.
“In the Eighth Judicial District Court money will be used to fund a veterans treatment court while in Reno money will be earmarked to fund a youth offender drug court,” said Justice Michael L. Douglas, chairman of the Specialty Court Funding Committee.
In Sparks, money will fund a drug court focusing on abuse of alcohol and other drugs.
“In these and every one of Nevada’s 34 specialty courts, we are funding proven ways to give people an opportunity to change their lifestyle,” Douglas said in a statement.
In 2015, the Nevada Legislature earmarked $3 million from the general fund for each year of the biennium to create more specialty courts. The intent was to add 800 to 900 new specialty court participants.
Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3821. Find @SandraChereb on Twitter.
