JRAC hears partner updates on walk-in care, jail services, homelessness and rising competency cases

Michael Drake, a JRAC board member, told members on May 13 that Family Health will introduce walk-in (open-access) primary care hours Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., starting in late summer. The rollout will begin in Knox County and then move to other counties in the region. Michael said Family Health staff would come to the county jail to provide services rather than requiring law-enforcement transfers.

David Rhoads emphasized the importance of reliable communication between DCH and Daviess County/City of Washington law enforcement for behavioral-health encounters. Shelby Stanley raised growing concerns about homeless sex offenders and cited a House bill passed last year that restricts county-to-county relocation of registered sex offenders unless the receiving court judge approves. Vanessa Phillips said governments typically start emergency shelters before transferring operations to nonprofit partners; she will contact the Knox County mayor to learn more about the startup process. Shelby said she will identify inmates nearing release from the Department of Corrections who could become homeless so the council can take early steps.

Dan Murrie said the courts’ biggest challenge is mental health: competency-restoration cases and insanity pleas have increased, and more people are being sent to state institutions for restoration. Michael added that the State of Indiana is focusing on incompetence-restoration efforts in jails.

The council did not pass new policy at the meeting; members recorded updates and identified follow-up actions.