KNOX CO. JAIL VOLUNTEERS DEAL WITH METH AFTERMATH

Knox County has a serious problem with methamphetamine, and the cost
to the community has been overwhelming. The county jail is overcrowded
and local agencies, from the court system to human services, are
extended well beyond their means to deal with the problem.

When I started as mental health officer for the Knox County Jail a
year and a half ago, there were no services available for meth users.

Inmates released from jail in the past had only limited access to
treatment and lacked drug-free places to reside.

The problem was obvious: Families were being destroyed and no
intervention was taking place.

Sheriff Stephen P. Luce set out to find a solution.

The answer, however, has taken time to develop, since resources are
limited and meth use continues to grow.

A road-work crew program was developed in the jail in an effort to
prevent recidivism and provide hope for inmates.

Jail space is limited so participants meet at a local
church.

Community professionals volunteer to provide programs, since there is
no funding.

We have developed a four-part plan to address problem
areas.

It includes a support group, since no substance abuse/addiction
treatment is provided.

I lead the weekly meetings and often visit participants in their
cellblock.

We have moved all program participants to one cellblock to provide a
therapeutic community atmosphere. We identify and work on areas for
internal change in an effort to continue drug free once out of jail.
LeAnn Luce, the sheriff's wife, who holds a master's degree in human
resources, leads a program called Inmates Need Help and Change. In
this weekly class she provides career assistance using assessments,
goal setting and self-esteem building.

Local ministers who have started a program called "Life After Meth"
(LAM) meet with participants weekly to address spiritual needs and
assist in help after release.

The recently opened LAM House offers a place for participants to
reside after release and continues to help implement a spiritual plan
and drug-free life. Participants also assist nonprofit agencies in
jobs such as repair and painting and they paint curbs and clean
community areas. Our main goal is to ensure they don't return to jail.
To accomplish this it is important to instill self-confidence, model
positive behavior and assist in spiritual guidance.

The volunteer staff are not the only ones involved in this process;
church members often prepare meals for program participants at the
church hall. Others in work-release, on probation or completely free
of the system attend meetings to enhance their own drug-free lifestyle
and serve as positive examples.

When I asked participants for feedback on the program, most said an
increase in family involvement would be good, and many were able to
list a problem they had been able to solve while in the program.

All of them said they would attend the meetings when released from
jail and their overall comments were very positive.

Participants have only one chance in the program; none of them have
been rearrested, but if they are we will not let them back. You may
have noticed I refer to people in our program as participants, not
inmates, prisoners or other socially demeaning labels.

To date we have no shortage of requests to participate, which tells me
people want help, and if help is provided with respect, even in a jail
environment, we can expect change. As citizens of Indiana, we need to
expect people to rehabilitate, and once they start the process,
embrace them and welcome them back to the community. When I started
work on the meth problem, I got the feeling we were just writing
people off, assuming they could not be helped.

This is far from the truth. Proven models of service should be used in
dealing with addicts and we should embrace recovery.

It happens all the time.