Sumner County committee approves MOU to begin TDOC risk-needs assessments in county jail

A Sumner County committee voted to advance a memorandum of understanding with the Tennessee Department of Correction to begin using a risk-needs assessment tool called Strongheart on felony inmates, a measure county officials said will fast-track classification and direct people to services while they are incarcerated.

The MOU, brought to the committee after members suspended rules to discuss it, obligates the state to provide licensing and training at no charge to the county, according to remarks from the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office told the committee the state will audit 5% of submitted files.

Sheriff (unnamed) said the change responds to “TCA 41,” which he described as a requirement enacted in the past year that requires felony inmates who are sentenced to receive a risk-needs assessment. “Strongheart’s a good product. I was familiar with it in Memphis, and the state's been using it for a lot of years,” the sheriff said. He added the state offered free licensing and free training, and that the county plans to train a limited number of staff to perform the assessments locally.

Committee members asked about costs and oversight. The sheriff’s office said there would be no direct cost to the county under the proposed MOU because the state will absorb licensing and training fees; the sheriff also noted a prior per-item fee had existed and said the MOU removes that burden for the county. The sheriff said the state will place an audit on roughly 5% of files submitted under the program and characterized the assessment as a layperson’s tool used to gather information to direct individuals to appropriate programs such as education, anger-management, substance-recovery and Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT).

Officials described practical effects: doing the assessment at intake or within the first 30 days for people who remain in custody can route them into educational or treatment pathways earlier. The sheriff’s office said the assessments will be included in the file that moves with the person into TDOC custody and that the county already maintains conviction and classification records.

A committee member noted potential revenue implications: the sheriff said adopting the assessment could help the county reach a higher state reimbursement tier, which he estimated would increase per-inmate payments by about 12% if the county achieves “tier 1” status with the state. The sheriff framed that as additional revenue tied to participation in the program.

After discussion the committee voted to advance the MOU. The committee record shows the item was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.