Dawn Thomas and Nate Collett, both with around 20 years’ experience with the department, were named assistant jail administrators for the Incarceration Facility between Troy and Piqua and the jail in downtown Troy, respectively.
The changes were part of Sheriff Dave Duchak’s staff restructuring in late 2018. Capt. Mike Marion, with the department 17 years, has been jail administrator since mid-2018.
The jails average between 2,500 and 2,600 intakes a year. Programming at the Incarceration Facility has increased since the sheriff’s office began reopening sections in 2013 following the facility’s closing with 2010 budget cuts.
The focus is on the Incarceration Facility “because the majority of the inmates will be going back into the public. The ones at the jail downtown (more likely) will be going to prison,” Thomas said.
Program options, among others, include GED classes, parenting classes, personal finance classes and resume writing.
Collett said the jail also works with the health department with programming for pregnant inmates.
“It is education they probably wouldn’t get on their own outside,” he said.
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs now are offered to encourage recovering inmates to build healthy habits before release, Thomas said.
The sheriff’s office last year joined the national Stepping Up resources initiative to work with mental health professionals to help those with mental health issues avoid a return to jail.
“We want the ability for them to have the knowledge, make sure they are getting their medication and are on the right track so they are not committing crimes they would when they are off their medication,” Thomas said.
The staff works with the health department, Miami County Recovery Council and Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health on a variety of services for returning to the community, health services and housing, Duchak said.
MCRC holds group meetings weekly for males and females, and staff screen, assess and provide transition plans to outpatient care and a Medically Assisted Treatment program for those addressing drug issues, said Thom Grim, MCRC executive director.
The Tri-County Board staff saw 246 people at the jails in fiscal 2018 (July 2017-June 2018) with 75 percent having a dual diagnosis of mental health and substance abuse issues, said Brad Reed, Tri-County’s director of community resource development.
Thomas said she thinks the efforts are worth the time and money invested.
“Occasionally, you run into that one success story. It makes you feel that you have hit home somewhere,” she said.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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