Dane County Advances Innovative Justice Reform Efforts to Strengthen Crisis Response, Reentry, and Equity
October 10, 2025
execmedia@danecounty.gov, 608-800-1127
County Executive, Office of Criminal Justice Reform
DANE COUNTY - Dane County is charting a forward-looking course in its justice reform efforts with the release of the 2025 Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping Report for Dane County, a comprehensive community assessment identifying opportunities to improve crisis response, reentry, and data-driven collaboration across local systems. Developed in partnership with Policy Research, Inc. through the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge, the report maps how individuals with behavioral health needs intersect with the justice system and highlights strategies to reduce incarceration, strengthen behavioral health supports, and advance equity.
The findings, drawn from a two-day workshop of more than 70 community members, service providers, and justice partners, lay the groundwork for continued innovation in connecting residents with the right care at the right time - before, during, and after contact with the justice system.
“This report reaffirms that justice reform is not just about changing systems - it’s about changing lives,” said County Executive Melissa Agard. “We are building a model that prioritizes care over incarceration, data over assumptions, and collaboration over silos. From crisis response to reentry, Dane County is proving that communities can be safer and fairer when we lead with compassion and innovation.”
The report identifies several key priorities: using data to drive cross-system decision-making, increasing supportive housing options for people with justice involvement, and integrating peer support into every level of the system. Together, these strategies position Dane County to better serve residents with behavioral health needs while reducing system inefficiencies and racial disparities.
The findings stem from a workshop supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge, which brought together law enforcement, courts, behavioral health experts, people with lived experience, and community organizations. Dane County previously implemented several key recommendations from its 2018 mapping process, including the creation of the Behavioral Health Resource Center and the expansion of the Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) program into Sun Prairie.
“This process shows what’s possible when people from every part of our community sit at the same table and design solutions together,” said Colleen Clark Bernhardt, Director of the Dane County Office of Justice Reform. “The report’s priorities—such as enhancing data sharing—are shaped by those on the front lines and the individuals most affected by the system. The next step is putting these priorities into action.”
The Dane County Office of Justice Reform and Community Justice Council will lead the next phase of implementation, convening workgroups to address top priorities identified by the report:
- Data Integration: Build cross-system data-sharing and outcome tracking to improve transparency and efficiency.
- Peer Workforce Expansion: Increase investment in trained peer specialists across crisis, reentry, and diversion programs.
- Housing and Reentry: Strengthen warm handoffs throughout the system toward community services.
“This work embodies Dane County’s values: smart government, community-driven solutions, and dignity for every person,” Agard said. “We are grateful to everyone who contributed their expertise and lived experience to move justice reform forward.”
The full report, Sequential Intercept Model Mapping Report for Dane County, Wisconsin (2025), is available through the Dane County Office of Justice Reform and the Community Justice Council of Dane County. Link to full report: HERE.