Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel reviewed several programs that are ongoing at the jail and how one program will be sustained in budget projections this year.
Hassel submitted a proposed 2020 commissary budget to the Marshall County Council this week that includes a $30,000 inmate services line item to help supplement funding for inmate programs.
“The Bowen Center is providing our programming underneath the grant from Community Corrections, but I, to keep the program going, am going to use Inmate Services to continue those,” stated Hassel.
The inmate services money could also be used to help a new Jail Treatment Coordinator get programs in place, if the council approves the new position next month. The Jail Treatment Coordinator would assist with programs and a discharge and release process plan, among other duties.
Hassel said many programs are in place now.
“The GED program has started back up. They could always work on it on their own, but there really wasn’t a mentor. We now have a mentor and we’re back up on doing the GED program. I would like to bring more job training programs in. Work One has always been willing to work with us.”
He said a grant through Grace College has allowed inmates to take hospitality and warehouse operations certification courses. There are no incentives to take these courses.
The council did approve the commissary budget for 2020.
Hassel did mention that the jail inmate count on Monday, Feb. 10 was 237. He commented that it’s the best it’s been in about a year.
