Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Criminal Justice Reentry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Adams County hears update on locally run jail reentry program; organizers seek sustained funding
Summary
Rob Parker reported the county-run jail reentry program has operated for about 60 days, offers in-jail and post-release services, and is funded partly by opioid-settlement funds and community commitments; organizers estimate annual operating costs of $250,000–$350,000 and have secured three years of community support for half the budget.
Rob Parker, director of Crossroads Community, told the Adams County Board of Commissioners on March 18 that the county''s locally run jail reentry program has been operating for roughly 60 days and is providing in-jail programming and transition supports aimed at reducing recidivism and connecting people to housing, treatment and mentoring.
Why it matters: The presentation outlined how local control of reentry services allows Adams County to tailor supports for people jailed for substance use or behavioral-health issues, and how the program links jail-based groups to community partners so participants can continue services after release.
Parker said the program runs Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) in the jail and pairs participants with mentors, sponsors and service providers. "We're the catalyst for those relationships," Parker said, adding the program aims to "make sure that you've got the relationships, the resources, and the opportunities to thrive." He said the program will try to support participants for up to a year after release and that, where appropriate, people can continue the same classwork with community corrections so they do not "miss a beat."
Funding and structure: Parker said the county''s program was built after county leaders declined a state IRACs model in favor of local ownership. He said he raised about half the initial funding from community sources and the other half came from the local allocation of opioid-settlement money that the county directed toward reentry programming. Parker said he has at least a three-year community commitment to pay half of the program''s original budget.
Asked about ongoing costs, Parker estimated the program could operate at about $250,000 per year in its present form and might require roughly $350,000 a year to expand services. "Right now, we can do for $250,000. I think once we grow... we're probably closer to 350 for the year," he said.
Program partners and facilities: Parker said the program already coordinates closely with community corrections, probation, the sheriff's office and local transitional housing providers. He said the program recently signed a lease on an office near the courthouse (he referenced an address near the courthouse during the meeting) to support post-release services and partnerships with existing community organizations, including Crossroads Community, local ministerial associations and Jay County Drug Coalition for peer recovery coaches.
Commissioners praised the approach and recommended tracking recidivism and completion rates as measures of success. Commissioner Steve said those metrics help justify continued local support, adding that programs that demonstrate clear results are more likely to be sustained beyond initial grant funding.
Parker said the goal is a locally owned model adaptable to county needs and not dependent solely on grants. "I don't want to be grant dependent," he said, explaining the county model allows more local control of priorities and partnerships.
Ending: Commissioners thanked Parker for the update and offered to help identify sustainable funding and partnerships; Parker said he would return with further updates as the program develops.
