Trevor Kadlec, executive director of Marquette Regional Community Corrections, talks to the Houghton County Board on May 11. (Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County will participate for a second year in a regional program based in Marquette County that’s intended to help guide criminal defendants through court proceedings and paths to rehabilitation.

The activities are grant-funded through the Michigan Office of Community Corrections with a goal of reducing recidivism and, potentially, incarcerations.

Prosecuting Attorney Abbey Anderson has objected to some of the program’s sentencing recommendations but didn’t try Monday to stop the county board from rejoining.

Commissioners, in their discussion, described the program as “a work in progress” that can be evaluated from year to year.

The board in May 2025 accepted a proposal from Trevor Kadlec, the manager of Marquette County Community Corrections, to enter into a regional agreement with Alger and Marquette counties. For the next fiscal year, Baraga, Houghton, Iron, and Keweenaw counties may participate as well.

The program provides pretrial risk assessments aimed at identifying a defendant’s likelihood of appearing in court, potential risks to public safety and chances of violating bond conditions. Pretrial supervision focuses on court appearances and public safety.

The program’s assessments, Kadlec told the Dickinson board last month, are “not a be-all and end-all” but are a tool to assist the judicial system.

A key selling point is access to the TRICAP probation residential center in Saginaw, which provides up to 150 days of treatment.

The total proposed seven-county grant request is $1.2 million, which includes $292,00 for outpatient services, $563,000 for pretrial supervision, $188,500 for pretrial assessment, $5,000 for substance abuse testing and $139,000 for administration.

The county board reappointed Commissioner Kevin Sullivan to serve as a representative on the Marquette Regional Community Corrections Advisory Board.

Kadlec, now the regional director, told the Houghton County Board in May that the goal is to eventually encompass the entire U.P., when its name would be changed to Upper Peninsula Community Corrections.

In other action, the county board:

— Denied a Freedom of Information Act request from Justin Meyers of Superior, Wis., to release county-wide GIS data layers. Meyers is the owner of Revolutionary GIS, described as a website for geospatial data enthusiasts.

— Learned from Commissioner Victoria Jakel that the Northpointe Behavioral Healthcare System Board will now generally meet at 4:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of month. Participation can be done in person at 715 Pyle Drive in Kingsford or via Microsoft Teams.

— Noted two waste management vacancies on the Central Upper Peninsula Materials Management Planning Committee, which is charged with creating a plan to regulate solid waste disposal, recycling, and composting activities within Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, and Schoolcraft counties.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.