Collaborative service planning; application solicitation process; informational and educational sessions; review of applications

Sec. 5. (a) A grantee participating in any program described in this chapter shall engage in collaborative service planning with the grantee's local or regional justice reinvestment advisory council (as described in IC 33-38-9.5-4), another local collaborative body that includes stakeholders across the juvenile justice system, or one (1) or more juvenile justice system entities affected by grant funded activities. Collaborative service planning shall: (1) inform grant solicitation, with support for rural communities as a required funding priority; (2) inform how funding and programming could be used more effectively; and (3) consider efficiency that may be achieved by implementing the program on a regional basis. (b) The Indiana criminal justice institute shall coordinate with the workgroup and oversight committee to develop a statewide solicitation process for applications for the grants from the fund and shall conduct outreach activities to inform all potential applicants of the grant opportunities available under this chapter. (c) The Indiana criminal justice institute, in coordination with the workgroup, oversight committee, commission, and office, shall conduct informational and educational sessions for potential and actual applicants, including opportunities for questions and clarification. (d) Subject to the Indiana criminal justice institute solicitation process developed under subsection (b), the oversight committee, or a subgroup of the oversight committee, shall review applications for grants under this chapter and make recommendations to the board of trustees of the Indiana criminal justice institute regarding funding decisions. The review of applications should be done in consultation with a representative from the department of child services, the department of correction, the division of mental health and addiction, the Indiana criminal justice institute, and the office.