Focus on rehabilitation

Members of the St. Joseph County Community Corrections Advisory Board plan to maintain a strong focus on rehabilitating jail inmates charged with methamphetamine-related offenses.

During their meeting last week, members of the 15-person committee said they intend to evaluate the success of a program called “Meth Men in Jail,” which is monitored by Spencer Price, substance abuse supervisor with the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County.

The pilot program is in its infancy and board members said they anticipate a progress update on the program from Price when board members meet again next month.

Prosecutor John McDonough said the recidivism rate for people charged with meth-related offenses is high, in part from a lack of a support system once they are released from jail. He said many offenders have nowhere to go other than the environment in which they were living and engaging in illegal activity that led to their arrest in the first place.