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Vigo County jail intake coordinator posts resource guide online after screening finds food insecurity as top need
Summary
Intake coordinator Jeremy Baker and social-services staff reported that 261 jail screens identified food as the most common need; the department posted a community resource guide on its website and said referrals to courts and probation are increasing.
Jeremy Baker, the county jail intake coordinator, told the Board that a new community resource guide is now available on the Vigo County Health Department website and is being distributed to courts, probation, fire and other agencies.
"When we collaborated with Miss Jackson and Tiffany, we got that on the website," Jeremy said, describing how the guide made it easier for community partners to print and share resources.
Molly, a social-services staff member, provided screening data: the jail conducted 261 total screens; 142 of those screens identified food needs. Molly said the top needs reported were food, substance-abuse services and clothing.
Jeremy said referral volume has grown. "Last month, I had, like, 26 people," he said of individuals requesting assistance; as of the meeting he reported 15 people had already called seeking help. He described early challenges building rapport with incarcerated people but said engagement has improved as officers and courts have referred people to his services.
Board members asked informally about recidivism among people who engaged with the intake program. Jeremy said a small number — "maybe 5 or 6" — of individuals he assisted returned to jail within roughly six months to a year, but he said most who completed the program did not return.
Molly described upcoming outreach to judges, prosecutors and public defenders to explain the jail’s work and said staff will report local outcome measures in January as the department shifts from KPIs to KPOs at the state’s request.
The board did not make a formal vote on programmatic changes but discussed continued collaboration across courts, probation, fire and social-service partners to expand referrals and resource distribution.
