On Monday, two individuals enrolled in Cortez Municipal’s Outreach Court graduated after successfully completing the program.
The graduates were Raymond Miles and Nathan Martin, only the second and third to graduate since the program’s inception in August 2023.
Miles had been arrested for trespassing and enrolled in Outreach Court in October on their housing track. With the help of the program, Miles transferred his benefits from Arizona, where he used to live, to Colorado and receive a housing voucher.
Though he has not yet acquired housing, Miles and program leadership said they are working on getting more in depth with the housing process and hope to acquire housing for Miles soon.
Because he complied with the program for 90 days and actively participated in the program, his representatives at Piñon Project said they hoped to close his case.
Cortez Municipal Judge Beth Padilla, who presided over the Outreach Court proceedings, said, “The case is closed as successful. You have successfully completed the program,” adding that Miles was only the second to graduate from the program so far.
“You have successfully completed outreach,” Padilla said. “That’s a big deal. You’re only our second person ever. So definitely proud of you, Mr. Miles, for all the work that you’ve put in and I really hope you continue to work with them and they will still help you.”
Martin was the third to graduate, becoming enrolled in the program on their mental health track on Oct. 9, according to the information provided by the court.
In that time, Martin attended meetings with Piñon Project for two hours, once a week for at least two months, Pinon Project said. He was also paired with Axis to work on his substance abuse, saying that he has been sober now for 30 days.
Padilla also graduated Martin from the program for his eager participation and the improvement seen.
“Mr. Martin, congratulations, you are graduating outreach court. You are done, sir,” Judge Padilla said. “We are dismissing your cases. … You have essentially done what you agreed to do. You agreed to work with Piñon Project and went above and beyond that and started working with Axis. So we're really proud of you and incredibly proud of you for having 30 days of sobriety. That's a huge deal.”
After Outreach Court was dismissed, both Miles and Martin received a certificate commemorating their graduation from the program.
Outreach Court was launched in August 2023 to help address the underlying issues of crime in the community. The voluntary program lasts up to 90 days, and defendants choose whether or not to participate in the program.
“It’s a completely voluntary program,” Padilla told The Journal in November. “I don’t order them to address substance use, I don’t order them to address housing. I say, ‘Your three options are housing, mental health or substance use. What do you want to work on and what agency are you going to partner with to reach your goals?’”
Outreach Court was modeled after the American Bar Association’s Homeless Court program, and it is the first municipality in Colorado to use the model.
Any person with a pending case, outstanding court costs or fines and/or suspended jail sentence are eligible. Meetings take place on the first Monday of the month at 11 a.m. at the Municipal Court in City Hall (123 Roger Smith Ave. in Cortez.)
When enrolled, defendants agree to work with their assigned agency for 90 days, and their open cases are put in diversionary status.
Those who don’t successfully complete the program return to a normal docket, while those who graduate will have their case dropped and charges dismissed.
More information about Outreach Court can be found by contacting Carla Odell, court administrator/county clerk at (970) 565-7952.
