The Jackson County Commission approved a $200,000 grant application for the county jail Monday to establish a program focused on reducing recidivism and assisting inmates with community reentry.
Jackson County Mayor Brian Lee said the funding comes through the Office of Criminal Justice Programs. Lee said the initiative provides the county with a new resource to address long-standing issues within the correctional facility at no cost to local taxpayers.
“I think they’re just looking for help,” Lee said. “They don’t have anything now and they’re, you know, I met with them and, you left with a feeling that they’re in sort of a, and I don’t mean this bad, but a helpless type situation. They’re doing what they can and this is an extra tool to go in the toolbox that’s paid for.”
Jail Administrator Tami Ryan said the program will improve access to the skills and resources required for inmates to successfully return to the community. Ryan said the grant will fund evidence-based programs such as Seeking Safety, which addresses addiction and trauma.
“Our goal is to get to that point and to get the inmates back out into the community so they won’t be coming back to jail,” Ryan said. “It’s also going to bring knowledge to those that keep coming back and keep coming back.”
Case Manager Autumn Alekna said the program includes case management services to help inmates secure addiction and mental health treatment. Alekna said the grant can also cover practical needs like clothing, identification, and deposits for treatment facilities.
“If they have a license, then if they get pulled over and they actually have their license, they’re not going to get a ticket,” Alekna said. “They can get back and forth to work.”
Ryan said the implementation of the program will help the facility achieve Tier 1 accreditation. Ryan said this status would increase the daily reimbursement rate the county receives for housing state inmates from $39 to $42 per person.