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Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office Merit Board heard updates about the Kosciusko County Recovery Program (KCRP) and Jail Chemical Addiction Program (JCAP) during its meeting Thursday.
Shanna Wallen, KCRP resource navigator, and Casey Trombley, JCAP coordinator, shared updates about their respective programs.
“It’s not a handout. It’s a hand up,” said Wallen.
Wallen said she has had 124 participants in her program who have been released and of these participants, only 13 have returned to jail. She compared her success rate to that of similar programs in Vigo and Brown counties, and both also had approximately a 10% recidivism rate, in line with KCRP.
Six KCRP participants are potentials for JCAP. The peer coaches and therapists affiliated with KCRP have full schedules, and there is a waiting list to be matched with a peer advisor or therapist.
Trombley said JCAP class 21 will begin March 23. She is currently interviewing potential JCAP participants and the class will have nine or 10 members in total, with 30 applying to participate.
Trombley said her participants who have already participated in KCRP programs are “10 steps ahead” of her other participants.
If inmates do not get into JCAP, Wallen will get in touch with them to provide them with information about other resources.
Both Wallen and Trombley encourage their participants to reach out if they need help or are in danger of relapsing even after they are released and graduated from the program.
Jail Commander Lt. Kevin Gelbaugh said there are currently 199 inmates in the Kosciusko County Jail, which is consistent with the downward trend that has been seen since last year. While this cannot be wholly attributed to KCRP and JCAP, they are definitely making an impact.
Wallen said many of the inmates she works with have tattoo regret, and she is looking for a solution. She mentioned possibly coming up with a way for inmates to work with a tattoo artist to design a coverup while they are still behind bars. This would focus on tattoos that are a barrier for employment.
Sheriff Jim Smith said, “Shanna does terrific work meeting with these folks as they’re nearing release and preparing to reenter society … There’s the expectation that they leave and go on to be productive citizens, but to do that they need to have some employment.”
Smith then acknowledged how difficult it can be for them to find a job with their history. He said he spoke with a state representative to discuss second-chance employment, and he has some programs in the works to assist with this issue.
In other business:
• Traffic Sgt. Justin Smith said they are expecting between 275 and 300 children to participate in Camp HERO. They are looking for volunteers and donations.
Smith said they need, “time, money and manpower.”
To donate, e-mail camphero43@gmail.com. Donors can also reach out directly to Justin Smith or Public Information Officer Sgt. Doug Light. Updates will be on the KCSO Facebook and X pages.
• Investigations Commander Lt. Joshua Spangle warned the community of scams. They are still ongoing, and people continue to target the elderly.
If you receive a call from someone who claims to be with KCSO, if they are actually with KCSO they should not ask for payment through PayPal, BitCoin or gift cards.
• KCSO Matron Michelle Hyden told the board they have had incredible savings since switching to Kell Well Food Management. Further details were shared at the Kosciusko County Council meeting Thursday night.
• Matt Rapp, a retired officer, was recognized for returning part-time to assist in updating the sex offender registry.
• Patrol Division Commander Lt. Mike Mulligan shared that new hires, Micah Mansfield and Peyton Hendrix, have both started training and should be going to the police academy in May.
• Gelbaugh reported that tablets have reduced the number of fights in the jail, but after 3-1/2 years of continuous use by inmates, they will need replaced soon.
