Improving Jail Operations in Marion County, Illinois Through the Use of Community Correctional Officers.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) solicits applications for initiatives which assist law enforcement in rural states and rural areas. The program helps rural states and rural areas to prevent and combat crime, especially drug-related crime, and provides for national support efforts, including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address rural needs.

The Assistance to Rural Law Enforcement to Combat Crime and Drugs Program, administered by BJA, helps rural states and rural areas prevent and combat crime, especially drug-related crime, and provides for national support efforts, including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address rural needs. In addition, priority consideration will be given to local law enforcement agencies in rural areas where the unit of local government is not eligible to receive a direct allocation from the Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program or received a direct allocation that was $50,000 or less. Applicants were invited to submit a proposal under any one of the following categories to: (1) combat rural crime; (2) improve rural law enforcement investigations; (3) enhance rural detention and jail operations; (4) facilitate rural justice information sharing; or (5) develop a national training and technical assistance program.

Under Category 3, Marion County will use its award to improve jail operations at the Marion County Jail. The county will hire three community correctional officers to assess and screen inmates for mental health and substance abuse issues. This will improve operations by demonstrating a better understanding of mental health and substance abuse issues and by providing an appropriate response to inmates. The correctional officers will work with inmates to access outpatient treatment, thus reducing recidivism. The new officers will be qualified to ensure treatment is delivered to these inmates. By creating three new positions within the jail, inmates will gain immediate access to officers who are trained to promote not only security, but also mental health treatment services.

CA/CF