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| Jail to start substance abuse program |
| By VICTORIA GUAY, citizen.com |
| Published: 03/24/2011 |
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Belknap County Commissioners gave the go-ahead to the Department of Corrections superintendent to submit a grant application for an in-jailhouse substance abuse program. Superintendent Daniel Ward said the application is to renew an existing federal grant for a drug-treatment program that has consistently and successfully operated within the department since 2004, though it existed in other forms before that. Currently named Project ADAPT (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment), the grant, which totals $63,195, pays for contracting counseling services from Horizons Counseling Center. Ward told commissioners that an average of 60 inmates a year complete the program. "It's a wonderful program," Ward said, adding that it allows the court to grant earlier releases to offenders who successfully complete the program. Commissioner Stephen Nedeau asked Ward about the matching amount of $21,065 listed on the application. "It's a match in-kind," Ward said, adding that it is part of (a little more than 25 percent) of the existing Department of Corrections' program director's salary. It does not use any additional taxpayer money, other than what is already being spent on the program director, who oversees ADAPT as well as other prison programs. Ward added that the program, through rehabilitating addicts, hopes to reduce the recidivism rate in Belknap County, which would save taxpayers even more money. Nedeau commented on the statistic contained in the application which noted the police departments of Laconia, Belmont, Gilford, Tilton and Meredith all estimate that between 75 to 85 percent of arrests in their communities and approximately 80 percent of domestic violence calls are drug or alcohol related. "I think that says it all," Nedeau said. According to the grant application, the Belknap County Department of Corrections logged 187 arrests for drug possession, distribution and alcohol related offenses in 2008, the same amount in 2009 and an increase to 235 in 2010. There are several hundred protective custody detentions for intoxication annually, with 2010 seeing 604. In 2010, of the 147 indictments from the Belknap County Attorney's office for alcohol and drug offenses, 50 were sentenced to the county jail in 2010 and ordered to undergo substance abuse treatment while incarcerated. After commissioners voted to approve the application submission, Ward gave them a quarterly update on his department. Ward said he was pleased to report that the prison population has decreased and is down from an average of 100 inmates per day in 2010 to a current inmate population of 84. Ward said while the reprieve may be temporary, it has allowed him to alleviate some of overcrowding issues in the facility that was originally designed to hold a maximum of 87 inmates. With the drop in the population, Ward said, he has been able to move inmates out of the gymnasium and reopen it for recreation and exercise. He said since the beginning of the year, the jail has had 311 intakes, which is consistent with the amount of intakes during the same period last year. He said a little more than 100 inmates come in and out of the facility each month. Nedeau asked Ward if he had rumors that the State Department of Corrections' Berlin Facility may close. Ward said he had heard that was a possibility, and that he would soon be joining other county corrections superintendents in a discussion with Corrections Commissioner William Wrenn what the ramifications would be for counties if the facility were to close. Finally, Ward said as spring approaches, more county departments and local communities will be looking for workers through the Department of Corrections. Commissioner Nedeau noted that Sanbornton officials recently complimented inmates on the work they did repainting the inside of town offices, including the police, fire and selectmen's' office. Ward said besides more community projects involving outdoor work, Spring and Summer will see more inmates than ever working on county-owned farmland, growing produce that will be used in the County nursing home and prison, as well flowers that will be used to brighten up the nursing home. Commissioners will be touring the jail on April 20, during a regular meeting. They tour the facility twice a year. Read More. |
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