At the Pickaway County Jail, inmates used to detox while behind bars, immediately relapse when they got out, and wind up back in jail.
The Attorney General’s Heroin Unit Outreach Team offered to help. A community meeting yielded resources and connections to use to help inmates.
Lt. Gabe Carpenter, jail administrator, said “We became resource hounds. If we could find a resource to help us get someone to treatment, find a resource that would help with any of the hurdles they faced, whether it be for food, housing, even transportation, we were on the hunt for it.”
Now, inmates can be signed up for Medicaid benefits while they are in jail. When they are released, they immediately have access to Vivitrol, counseling and other services to stay clean and out of jail.
The Heroin Unit Outreach Team video about the work being done in Pickaway County, other videos, and resources are available on the Ohio Attorney General's
website.