(a) For the purpose of encouraging counties to develop a coordinated local corrections-criminal justice system and providing effective alternatives to imprisonment at the state level, the commissioner shall, out of funds appropriated for such purposes, make grants:

1. (1) to counties for the establishment and operation of community corrections programs and court supervised recidivism reduction programs; and

2. (2) to support a probation department, pretrial diversion program, or jail treatment program.

   Appropriations intended for this purpose may not be used by the department for any other purpose. Money appropriated to the department of correction for the purpose of making grants under this chapter and any financial aid payments suspended under section 6 of this chapter do not revert to the state general fund at the close of any fiscal year, but remain available to the department of correction for its use in making grants under this chapter.

(b) The commissioner shall coordinate with the division of mental health and addiction in issuing community corrections and court supervised recidivism reduction program grants to programs that provide alternative sentencing projects for persons with mental illness, addictive disorders, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities. Programs for addictive disorders may include:

1. (1) addiction counseling;
2. (2) inpatient detoxification; and
3. (3) medication assisted treatment, including a federal Food and Drug Administration approved long acting, nonaddictive medication for the treatment of opioid or alcohol dependence.

(c) Grants awarded under this chapter:

1. (1) must focus on funding evidence based programs, including programs that address cognitive behavior, that have as a primary goal the purpose of reforming offenders; and
2. (2) may be used for technology based programs, including an electronic monitoring program.

(d) Before the tenth day of each month, the department shall compile the following information with respect to the previous month:

1. (1) The number of persons committed to the department.

2. (2) The number of persons:

   1. (A) confined in a department facility;
   2. (B) participating in a community corrections program; and
   3. (C) confined in a local jail under contract with or on behalf of the department.

3. (3) For each facility operated by the department:

   1. (A) the number of beds in each facility; and
   2. (B) the number of inmates housed in the facility.
4. (4) The number of persons committed to the department for a Level 6 felony.

(e) The department shall:

1. (1) quarterly submit a report to the budget committee; and

2. (2) monthly submit a report to the justice reinvestment advisory council (as established in IC 33-38-9.5-2 );

   of the information compiled by the department under subsection (d). The report to the budget committee must be submitted in a form approved by the budget committee, and the report to the advisory council must be in a form approved by the advisory council.

   As added by Acts 1979, P.L.120, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.151-1983, SEC.1; P.L.85-2004, SEC.42; P.L.105-2010, SEC.2; P.L.168-2014, SEC.24; P.L.117-2015, SEC.7; P.L.179-2015, SEC.1; P.L.209-2015, SEC.5; P.L.149-2016, SEC.40; P.L.69-2016, SEC.1; P.L.65-2018, SEC.2; P.L.9-2024, SEC.324; P.L.126-2024, SEC.3; P.L.193-2025, SEC.11.