Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel asked the Marshall County Council members for support to fund the jail program director’s position out of the budget now that the grant for that position is apparently no longer available.
Hassel explained that he and Marshall County Community Corrections Director Ward Byers worked to obtain a grant from the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to fund the director’s position. The grant was awarded to the county in July, but since Todd Rokita took over the Indiana Attorney General’s Office he has discontinued the grant, according to Hassel.
There are 10 classes offered through the JCAP program under the direction of Director Joshua Pitts which include substance abuse, Moral Recognition Therapy, skills building, GED classes, art classes, logistics certification, decision points, Narcotics Anonymous, parenting, and individual counseling. Pitts said the hope is to offer the offenders a different way of thinking to become better people.
“What we’re trying to do is create better community members so when they leave the jail they’re not going to keep coming back,” said Pitts. “That’s what we’re trying to do through all of these programs.”
Chief Jailer Beau Holcomb spoke highly of the programs and the effect they have on the inmates.
Holcomb commented, “They’re all addicts. They’re either addicted to drugs, they’re addicted to alcohol consumption or they’re addicted to just making terrible decisions. I think that as a corrections facility, we owe it to these people and we owe it to the community to give them the help that they need, and I think Josh is that help.”
He added that the programs are full with attendees at the jail.
Hassel proposed presenting an additional appropriation to the council at their May meeting to pay the director’s salary and benefits for the remainder of the calendar year. He would use funds out of the Jail Local Income Tax (LIT) Fund and pay programming costs through the Commissary Fund, but he will seek grants to help pay for that programming.
Councilman Heath Thornton noted that the council has usually had the policy of eliminating a grant-funded position if that grant money is no longer available. If it does become available again, an application request will be presented.
The council unanimously approved a motion to support funding the position through the end of the year as they see the benefit of the position as Hassel believes it does help keep down the population at the jail.
