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Community Justice Department

Justice Initiatives

Desistance, diversion and reentry programs

This division leads efforts with criminal legal and community partners, and CJD direct service staff to improve the criminal legal system in Missoula County by using data, strong partnerships, and focused multidisciplinary teams to carry out collaborative work.

We address systemic problems that can cause delays and inefficiencies resulting in more harm to system-involved individuals, families and the community. By listening to partners, direct service providers, and people that are justice-involved. including primary or secondary crime victims of interpersonal violence including domestic violence, sexual violence, and child abuse; as well as people on pretrial and reentering our community from detention center, DOC, state hospital, who could use support to desist from crime.

The division provides targeted study and analysis, program development, funding development and management, project implementation, and specialized training and to support multi-agency initiatives that will meet emerging community issues.

Programs include:

  • The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) Executive Board s a formal committee of key legal system stakeholders who are either elected or senior-level policymakers. These stakeholders meet every other month to discuss matters concerning the criminal legal system. The CJCC Data Committee was formed in 2026 to better understand court and system data processes through a mapping report and collaboration with JMI.
  • Just Response is a team of professionals from the criminal legal system and community agencies that work collaboratively to promote healing and justice for individuals and families harmed by abuse, neglect, and violence. Through a Person-centered approach, Timely collaboration, Continuous improvement, and Respectful curiosity the sustain the work to improve our response to crime victims and families. 
  • The Rural Program ensures survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking living in rural Missoula and Mineral Counties have access to supportive safety, advocacy, and other services through partnerships with rural crime victim advocates, local agencies, community-based organizations, and rural schools. The Rural program engages with county and community partners, and coordinates collaborative efforts to enhance survivor safety, strengthen rural justice systems, train local professionals, and continue partnering with the schools to teach healthy communication to our kids and prevent future violence.

Related partnerships:

  • Partners for Reintegration is a community coalition of individuals, social services, faith communities, and local and state agencies assisting those returning from incarceration or
    treatment to successfully reintegrate into the Missoula community.