Detention Center receives release counselor to help with transition of inmates

Jul. 14—With positive COVID-19 cases on a downturn, the Madison County Detention Center is making some significant changes.

On Tuesday, Jailer Steve Tussey updated the Madison County Fiscal Court regarding the detention center.

The first announcement was one Tussey said he was very excited about.

As of now, there is a release counselor on-site at the jail to help inmates being released with their transition back into society.

"They are a resource guide for things such as housing, finance, family services, food assistance, and utilities; you name it — they assist in drug rehab and Narcan training as well for people who are leaving," Tussey told The Register.

This individual helps with counseling all of the inmates pre-release and is funded through a grant provided to the Madison County Health Department by the University of Kentucky HEALing Communities Study.

"This resource will help inmates begin to explore options for support when they are released," said Laura Nagle with the Madison County Harm Reduction Team. "Many people in the criminal justice system have a substance use disorder and have struggled to access treatment in the past. A Recovery Support Specialist will be able to connect inmates with the help they need to prevent recidivism."

According to Carrie Oser, UK HCS CJ Faculty, as part of the University of Kentucky's HEALing Communities Study, the university is working with local community coalitions to deploy evidence-based practices to reduce opioid overdose deaths.

"One example is our partnership with the Madison County Detention Center, where we are using grant funds to place a Peer Support Specialist from Voices of Hope to work full-time in the jail. The Peer Support Specialist will provide overdose education and distribute free naloxone to people at release. Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reserves an opioid overdose and can help save lives. During the reentry process, the Peer Support Specialist will also link interested individuals to medication treatment for their opioid use disorder in their local community," she said.

In addition, prior to their release, all inmates receive a free package of Narcan and training on how to use it as part of the grant funding.

With restrictions also being lifted regarding people coming in and out of the jail, drug rehab meetings resumed on-site last week with Mike Saint John.

"He was willing and good enough to come to the jail and meet with inmates," Tussey advised. "The meetings have been wonderful, very heartfelt. There are a lot of emotions, a lot of stories, and a lot of tears, and I think it will have a lot of benefits to the jail and people."

Lucas, the new resource counselor, "At the Madison County Detention Center, I have the unique opportunity to provide overdose education and naloxone distribution where it's desperately needed. In addition to education, I have an opportunity to connect people to life-changing resources and services, as well as provide recovery support through SMART Recovery meetings. I am beyond excited to help make a difference any way I can."

Tussey also gave an update on an energy efficiency project the jail is currently undergoing that was approved in January 2021.

At that time, the court unanimously voted to award a bid to Perfection Group, a privately owned company, to help investigate, conduct and design a plan to help see energy savings in the county's jail, the Annex Building, and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), by updating their current infrastructure to reduce operating costs.

According to Andrew Apro, the division manager for Perfection Group, the jail would need significant renovations to electrical, HVAC, building automation, retro-commissioning, IAQ, life safety/security, controls, plumbing, water conservation, envelope, and kitchen equipment.

With a project investment of over $7 million, the team predicted a total project savings of $8,497,666 to come to the county after all work is said and done.

"It's a significant investment, but it comes with significant savings as well," Apro said previously.

In Tuesday's update, Tussey called the renovation progress "slow but good."

"It is a pain in the butt to try and run a jail and fix it at the same time, but we are doing the best we can," Tussey said.

"The sewer project has been very challenging, but it has been much needed," Madison County Judge Reagan Taylor said.

Tussey agreed and said if the changes had not been made, the county was truly looking at a jail shutdown.

"And none of us want that," the jailer said. "It is a trainwreck right now, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I am really looking forward to it."

Because of the ongoing work inside the jail, Tussey said many inmates were in other counties and on home incarceration. As of Tuesday, around 280 people are being housed in the jail and more than 100 in HIC. In total, the jailer said the jail is currently responsible for more than 400 inmates. Their capacity on-site is 184-beds.