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Crook County authorizes staff to accept CJC funding to buy jail-based opioid medications
Summary
Crook County commissioners authorized staff to approve a Criminal Justice Commission grant award that would let the jail purchase long-acting injectable medications for opioid use disorder, with clinical administration provided under an existing MOU with BestCare Addiction Medicine Clinic.
Andrew Asmasen, representing the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, told commissioners on Dec. 4 that the county applied for and was offered a Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) allocation to buy long‑acting, jail‑administered medications to treat opioid use disorder. Asmasen said the county’s recommended award amount is $236,400 and described the product as a room‑temperature, shelf‑stable injectable that can be stocked in the jail.
Under the county’s existing memorandum of understanding with BestCare Addiction Medicine Clinic, BestCare would perform clinical assessments and administer doses, Asmasen said. He said jail staff would identify eligible people and refer them to BestCare; BestCare would handle dosing and aftercare, and the county’s role would be limited to storing the medication and making referrals.
Commissioners asked about liability if a patient had an adverse reaction. Asmasen said the MOU assigns responsibility for clinical care and adverse‑event follow‑up to the provider; the jail would report incidents to the provider and document them, but treatment responsibility rests with BestCare. He added the chosen medication has a low diversion risk and that initial test doses would be used to screen for allergic reactions.
County counsel and staff told the board that the final grant award documents had not yet been issued but were expected in mid‑December; commissioners approved a motion authorizing staff to execute the award once the final document is issued so long as it contains no material differences from the sample reviewed by staff.
The board’s action clarifies funding will be used to purchase medication only; Asmasen said the award should prevent the jail from bearing the cost in its general budget. Staff will complete contracting and reporting steps required by the CJC before funds are expended.
Next steps: staff will complete paperwork and execute the grant award if the final version matches the sample document reviewed by counsel and administration.
