Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson today announced the Sexual Assault, Response, Investigation, and Prosecution: Victim Centered, Trauma Informed, and Offender Focused training hosted by the District Attorney’s Office is set to begin October 6th, 2020. The training, originally scheduled for April 2020 had been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will be presented in a virtual format with the assistance of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. 

As the Douglas County Building Codes Director, Tina Rakes describes her work as life safety.

She ensures that homes and businesses are built to be safe, sustainable and resilient structures that meet the International Code Council’s standards.

“I primarily help people who want to build something whether it’s commercial, residential or an addition,” she said. “My goal is to establish a working relationship and to help people accomplish their goals.”

Dale Beaulieu had been through graduation ceremonies before. This one was different.

And not just because it was conducted via Zoom.

This graduation was the most meaningful.

Douglas County announced today its continued commitment to reduce the number of people in the Douglas County Correctional Facility who have mental illnesses by participating in the newest initiative from Stepping Up, Set, Measure, Achieve - a nationwide call to action to reduce the prevalence of mental illness in local justice systems.

The multi-year effort will focus on creating measurable reductions to the Douglas County Corrections Facility population with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and achieving:

Starting September 21, Route 7 (East 1125 Road) will be closed to all traffic just north of North 1876 Road, for a culvert repair project. The project is located at Lakeview Lake, just north of Lawrence. The project includes superstructure and deck replacement with pre-cast concrete box beams. Douglas County Public Works anticipates construction will be completed in November. No signed detour will be provided.  

Douglas County is one of 13 communities in the country to receive the first Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction Grant from the USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and has been awarded nearly $90,000 to work on food resource recovery.

Douglas County Commissioners endorsed the proposed governance structure and bylaws of Behavioral Health Partners, Inc. during their Sept. 9 meeting. Behavioral Health Partners, Inc., a nonprofit partnership between LMH Health and Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, will provide leadership, clinical oversight and operational management of the crisis recovery center on the Treatment and Recovery Campus of Douglas County.

District Court Judge Mark Simpson and Data Analyst Matt Cravens provided a presentation about arrests for failure to appear in court during the Sept. 8 meeting of the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. They talked about how these arrests impact the Douglas County Correctional Facility.

Simpson began the presentation by explaining the different types of bonds and how bail is set for municipal and district courts.  He also reviewed how the state statutes direct the courts to apply bonds.

The State of Kansas has approved Douglas County’s plan for distributing $24.9 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to the community. The plan includes funding for 153 programs ranging from coronavirus testing and personal protective equipment to small business grants and Lawrence Community Shelter improvements.

Douglas County Government’s offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Dispatch Center and Criminal Justice Services will be operating. If you have an emergency, please call 911. If you have a non-emergency, call 785-843–0250.

Douglas County learned Monday (August 17) that one employee who works in the Treasurer’s Office has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Treasurer’s Office has been conducting its services mostly by phone, email or mail. In-person meetings have been by appointment only in the County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts Street. Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has determined this to be a “low-risk exposure” for employees and the public. Douglas County will continue to work with the health department and follow its recommendations.

District Attorney Charles Branson announces today, after a review of the investigation of the officer-involved shooting of Nicholas Hirsh that took place on June 15, 2020, there is ample evidence to indicate that it was reasonable for law enforcement officers to believe that deadly force was necessary to protect themselves, other officers, and members of the public from death or great bodily harm.