Sarpy County Reentry Court held a graduation ceremony for three participants who successfully completed all conditions of their post-release supervision and Reentry Court requirements.  The three graduates are the first to complete Sarpy County’s Reentry Court program.  Judge Stefanie Martinez, who oversees the Sarpy County Reentry Court, hosted the event on December 2, 2019.  All three graduates remarked how the program had initially been a challenge but all agreed they greatly benefited from the services and supervision.  Family members also expressed their gratitude for the success of the graduates and their progress in recovery and reentry into the community.
 
In 2016 the Nebraska Legislature passed LB919, which authorized the expansion of the definition of Problem-Solving Courts to include Reentry Courts. At the direction of the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Problem-Solving Court Committee, a group of Nebraska stakeholders created the Nebraska Reentry Court Best Practice Standards. The Nebraska Supreme Court approved the standards in June 2017, and authorized the establishment of the Sarpy County Reentry Court on January 3, 2018.

Nebraska Reentry Courts are designed for high-risk and high-need individuals who are reentering society from incarceration on a term post-release supervision. Similar to other problem-solving courts, reentry courts operate under a team approach where a judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, coordinator, community supervision officer, law enforcement, treatment provider(s), and other key team members work together to design an individualized program for each participant. The court’s goal is to protect public safety and reduce recidivism. Intensive community supervision and interaction with a judge in non-adversarial court hearings verifies compliance with treatment and other court-ordered terms.