HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Christian County Fiscal Court approved a memorandum of understanding for mental health services with the Christian County Jail. This program would be unique to Christian County and may be the first of its kind in the state of Kentucky.
Jailer Adam Smith addressed the magistrates to explain the program during the special called Dec. 27 meeting. He began by saying this is something they have been working on for several months at the jail, and it is a program he is excited to implement.
“I recognized early on that I feel like we are missing something,” said Smith. “The police department does a good job, we do a good job, but we are missing that private partnership. What can we do to help people get clean and be productive citizens?”
With the assistance of local behavioral specialist Ashley Boze, they will choose Christian County inmates for the launch of the pilot program and provide continual counseling services. The program would act as a bridge once inmates leave the facility to further aid them in staying clean and not reoffending, also allowing the jail to track their progress.
Around five inmates will be selected at the start that are frequently brought through the jail for various misdemeanors. Smith said they are budgeting a $39,000 threshold for the year, and when the funds run out, they will step back and analyze the data they have collected to determine if the program is working. This will determine if the county wants to invest more money into it. “The idea is that these inmates don’t reoffend,” explained Smith.
Funding will come from opioid settlement money that is available to the county. According to Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam, this funding comes with its own stipulations and has very limited use, but this program fits all the criteria.