Washoe County Commissioners got an update Tuesday on services that were part of the now-dissolved Department of Alternative Sentencing.
In December 2025, the Board of County Commissioners voted to dissolve the Department of Alternative Sentencing (DAS) and move its essential programs into other departments.
On Tuesday, Chief Financial Officer Abbe Yacoben presented an update on the dissolution of the department and was joined by subject-matter experts to give details on pretrial services, post-sentence probation, and the STAR Program (Support in Treatment, Accountability, and Recovery).
Pretrial services were absorbed by the Second Judicial District Court, which has added four new pretrial services officers to keep up with the added caseload. This month, they served just over 1,100 clients, an increase from approximately 600 in December.
Alternative Sentencing was moved into the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, moving seven personnel into the WCSO. The sheriff's office is currently in the process of hiring a case manager to allow civilian staffing in case management so commissioned staff can remain in the field.
Washoe County Human Services Agency CrossRoads works with the Sheriff’s Office and Reno Justice Court’s therapeutic courts to administer the STAR Program. They have spent the last several months refining the funding and staffing of the program and ensure that the program remains true to its original concept.
Admissions into the program resumed this month, and there are currently three individuals in the program.
(Washoe County contributed to this report.)
