SHERIFF’S OFFICE ONE OF FOUR IN NATION SELECTED FOR PILOT PROJECT
Agency selected for leadership in transitioning inmates from jail to success in community

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            CONTACT:    Karla Weikal
00110132009                                                                                       862-8235

 

 

Nashville, TENN. - The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is one of four jurisdictions nationally chosen to participate in a pilot project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and The Urban Institute Justice Policy Center. Nearly 150 agencies applied to participate in the “Transition from Jail to Community” project and those seen as advanced leaders were selected, including local agencies in California, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

 

Transitional classes like the one shown above help inmates with their transition to the community.

On Tuesday, representatives from NIC and The Urban Institute will begin their two-year evaluation of how the DCSO does business when it comes to transitioning inmates from jail into the community where they can become productive citizens. The long term goal is to develop a transition model for implementation in six jurisdictions nationwide in order to address an offender’s successful re-entry into society after incarceration. Ultimately, technical assistance tools will be developed for any qualifying local agency expressing interest.   “What many don’t understand is the majority of people who come to jail are going home within just a few weeks or months. My priority is for us to work with the inmate population so they can become taxpayers, not tax burdens. Over the years, we have worked closely with the courts on a referral system in order to get candidates for transition. We have people working in the courts everyday to ensure this happens,” Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall said.“In addition, our employees work extremely hard not only to prepare an inmate for a

life after jail while they are still incarcerated, but they also spend a great deal of time developing community relationships that, in the long run, benefit both the inmate and the community upon release.”

 

Religious organizations, private employers, and community organizations assist inmates with housing, follow-up alcohol and drug counseling, medical and mental health aftercare, as well as job placement. Primary goals of the project include reduction of recidivism, substance abuse, homelessness, improved health, family connectivity, and increased systems collaboration. According to Hall, it takes the community’s assistance to accomplish these goals.

 

“You could never allocate enough resources within the sheriff’s office budget to make these things happen. It truly takes the selflessness of people in our county to care about the incarcerated population and dedicate themselves to making a difference,” Hall said. “If we can continue our successful work in transitioning, everyone wins. The jails have fewer inmates, the community has less crime, employers have productive employees, and families can have peace.”

 

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