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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<a name="_Hlk90548605"></a><a name="_Hlk62717647"></a><a name="x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img width="148" height="148" style="width:1.5416in;height:1.5416in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01D7F65C.C5141210" alt="A close up of a sign
Description automatically generated"></span></b></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NEWS
RELEASE</span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">For Immediate Release
Date: 12/21/21</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Contact: Public Information Office
Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">E-mail: </span></b></span></span><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">
</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">
</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">CJRC Receives $467K Department of Justice Grant
for Mental Health Court Expansion Initiative</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham, N.C. – </span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">The
Durham County Criminal Justice Resource Center (CJRC) was recently chosen for a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) grant award of $467,696 for the
</span></span><a href="https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/awards/15pbja-21-gg-03984-ment"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Mental
Health Court Expansion Initiative (MHCEI)</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">The CJRC will collaborate with the Durham County District Attorney’s Office
and the Durham County Courts to enhance the capacity of the existing Mental Health Court and align with best practices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">“The Mental Health Court Expansion Initiative addresses critical gaps
in the Durham County diversion efforts by enhancing treatment supports for Mental Health Court clients,” said Gudrun Parmer, Director of the Criminal Justice Resource Center. “The MHCEI also addresses the needs of individuals with mental illnesses who do not
meet Mental Health Court eligibility requirements.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">In accordance with Mental Health Court best practices, the CJRC and its
partners will establish an interdisciplinary advisory team of stakeholders from criminal justice, mental health, and substance use service providers to assist with planning and administration of the project. The University of North Carolina is a proposed subcontractor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">The award is part of the DOJ’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration
Program’s </span></span><a href="https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/O-BJA-2021-95004.pdf"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Fiscal
Year 2021 Competitive Grant Solicitation</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">.
The program was set up to provide support to criminal justice agencies to partner with mental health agencies and reduce crime and recidivism associated with people with mental illness and co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues. Prior to this
award, Durham County had received a Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Project grant in 2016 in the amount of $228,828.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">For more information about this award and the
</span></span><a href="https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-a-e/criminal-justice-resource-center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham
County Criminal Justice Resource Center</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">,
contact Gudrun Parmer at 919-560-0500 or email to </span></span><a href="mailto:gparmer@dconc.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">gparmer@dconc.gov</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:150%;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk90548605"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">###</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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