'It's frightening': Social service groups worried after Milwaukee Municipal Court ends service contract

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Hundreds of Milwaukeeans who get help navigating the court system could soon be left in the lurch after the municipal court cut ties with a service provider.

The organization JusticePoint finds alternative ways for people to pay off citations when they may not have the financial means or cognitive ability to do so in the traditional way.

The Municipal Court Alternatives Program helps people with mental health issues or other challenges to navigate an often-complicated court system. It also helps them find other ways to pay off their citations if they don't have the money, so that their debt does not spiral out of control.

But now that program is set to end July 11.

Rachel Fox Armstrong, of Legal Action of Wisconsin, said, "It's frightening. I think people are going to slip through the cracks."

The court system can be especially challenging for people with mental health or substance abuse issues, or those experiencing poverty or housing insecurity.

JusticePoint works to get them social services that can prevent bigger issues or worse outcomes.

Sue Eckhart, JusticePoint's Program Director, said, "If we can get them into some treatment, they're unlikely to continue to get involved in the system."

Common offenses are loitering, littering and disorderly conduct.

JusticePoint Founder & CEO Nick Sayner said they're "Essentially nuisance crimes. These are not individuals who are charged with violent criminal offenses."

But when people are unable to pay, JusticePoint also works to find an alternative to a typical fine or license suspension.

Eckhart said, "Getting someone involved in a treatment program, having them do community service. We've had individuals who were not working and went to a community service site and got hired."

They say it's worked for 40 years, but it will likely end July 11 after the Milwaukee municipal court ended the contract.

After that, Sayner said, "We don't know, just to be honest. We don't know if there's a transition plan."

Legal Action of Wisconsin provides free legal services to low-income people and works closely with JusticePoint. Fox Armstrong said, "It ultimately stabilizes the community and would save the community money, rather than having more and more people spiral into deeper pits of poverty."

But the groups say the relationship with the court has soured recently.

Fox Armstrong said, "We have been seeing a resistance to transparency and accountability."

And Sayner said, "Our relationship has been tenuous, at times."

The Milwaukee Municipal Court did not respond to requests for information and comment.

For now, the groups are focusing on their clients.

Right now, JusticePoint has an active caseload of more than 200 people, many of whom have court dates scheduled for after the end-of-contract deadline.

Sayner said, "There's this humanity to it. And we want to humanize the individuals that we work with."

On Friday, Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he was aware the contract was ended but he did not have any other details. Later, a spokesperson for the mayor said his administration was not involved in the decision.