SUBSTANCE ABUSE/MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
While the Salt Lake County Metro Jail exists primarily as a facility where those convicted of a crime serve their sentences, a major goal is to provide prisoners with the life skills to help them be successful once jail terms are completed. The Programs Division provides a variety of educational and treatment options to maximize opportunities for prisoner success.
At any given time, approximately 85 percent of the inmates at the jail are dealing with substance abuse problems. The goals of our treatment programs are to reduce the length of the average jail stay, move prisoners into community-based treatment slots, and ultimately, reduce recidivism due to criminal activity and/or continued use of alcohol or drugs.
The Programs Divisions partners with the Salt Lake County Division of Substance Abuse through Valley Mental Health to provide therapeutic services.
Correctional Addiction Treatment Services (CATS)
CATS is a therapeutic community within the jail housing units with 64 male beds and 32 female beds for a 90-day residential treatment program. As many as 90 percent of the participants are court-ordered to the program as a condition at sentencing.
The CATS program has been in operation since 1999.
Drug Offender Group Services (DOGS)
Levels One and Two DOGS are outpatient programs offered to minimum security prisoners housed in the general population at the jail. Based on a screening done at intake, prisoners are placed in one of the two programs. As a general rule, Level One prisoners (who attend 48 hours of classes over an eight week period) are dealing with problems primarily related to marijuana and/or alcohol. Level Two is an intensive outpatient program designed primarily for prisoners dealing with issues related to use of meth, cocaine, heroin, etc. It meets three times each week for six weeks (72 treatment hours).
Aftercare Programs
Gaining skills and knowledge during incarceration can be a great catalyst for achieving and maintaining sobriety. Studies show that aftercare plays a significant role in helping offenders stay clean. The jail’s community partners play an important role in helping prisoners continue their treatment upon release from custody.
Prime for Life
This 16-hour risk reduction program is designed to challenge common beliefs and attitudes that directly contribute to high-risk alcohol and drug use. The Salt Lake County Metro Jail was one of the first correctional facilities in the nation to implement the program (in November 2007) and provides services to over 900 prisoners annually.
The Prime for Life program developers believe “that with new material, time to process it, and support for change, most people are willing to explore new beliefs and change behaviors – if the information is valid, the support is genuine, and the benefits are clear".
Many graduates have voluntarily participated in additional substance abuse and reintegration classes upon graduation.
12-STEP GROUPS
Various volunteer organizations provide at-will substance abuse programs in the jail. Weekly meetings are open to all non-maximum-security prisoners.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Cocaine Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Mind Altering Substances Anonymous
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Addiction Recovery
BRIDGES
The Sheriff’s Office has partnered with NAMI- Utah (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) to provide the Bridges Mentoring Program. The 12-hour course focuses on recovery and is designed to help prisoners manage their mental health issues, learn to access community services, and ultimately live independently.
The program partners inmates with a mentor, who has also gone through the program, to assist with navigating the system and obtaining services. Most importantly, the mentor provides peer-to-peer support and follow-up communication upon release.
Once the original course is completed, support groups are available, both within and outside the jail, for as long as services are needed.
For further information regarding these programs, please contact
Sgt. Matt Dumont
743-5177
mdumont@slco.org