Tooele County highlights jail-based addiction treatment program as route to reduce recidivism

Tooele County officials presented an overview of the Tooele Opioid Response Network (TORN) and the RISE jail‑based substance‑use treatment program at the Feb. 3 council meeting, describing the work as a public‑health strategy to reduce recidivism.

Matt Henningsen of Utah State University Extension, who leads TORN, said the consortium started in 2020 and “has served over 6,000 people across 270 activities,” including naloxone training, community recovery gatherings and jail‑based classes. He credited partnerships — including the county sheriff’s office and human services — and external funding for expanding treatment options locally.

Henningsen recounted a comment he attributed to Sheriff Wimmer that shaped the effort: “I’m convinced that you cannot incarcerate away addiction,” and said the program’s jail‑based components include peer support, exit planning, medication for opioid‑use disorder and referrals to aftercare.

Lieutenant Darren Durfee, who helped bring the RISE curriculum to Tooele County, said the local version began in October 2024 and pairs intensive in‑custody work with aftercare planning. Durfee estimated the county’s incarceration cost at roughly $15,000 for a 180‑day stay and argued that even modest reductions in re‑incarceration can produce significant taxpayer savings over time.

Program staff and graduates described practical outcomes. Cheyenne Anderson, who works in long‑term recovery and helps run the Exit Strategies class, said the program focuses on “what do you need?” — housing, employment or treatment — and then builds a tailored exit plan. A graduate who spoke as Corey said he paroled in March 2024, secured sober housing, found steady work and this month will have his son with him for the first time in a decade.

Councilmembers praised the results and asked staff to provide the presentation slides by email for broader review. Lieutenant Durfee requested a permanent county meeting space for aftercare (currently hosted at USU Extension), saying aftercare stability is critical for sustained recovery; the council did not take a formal vote on that request but directed staff to follow up.

What’s next: Staff recommended the county continue to treat jail‑based treatment as a combined public‑health and public‑safety approach, use program data to inform future budget and service decisions, and seek sustainable space and funding once grant support expires.