Study Suggests Dubois County Officials Build Residential Treatment Facility to Help Alleviate Jail Overcrowding

MATT CRANE WITH THE DUBOIS COUNTY FREE PRESS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT

JASPER -- The University of Cincinnati has provided Dubois County officials with options to reduce the number of inmates in the county jail and address the issue of recidivism, this, as county leaders work to address jail overcrowding.

The Free Press reports the findings were part of a study by the University of Cincinnati.  That study was funded by the Dubois County Community Foundation.

The study suggests the county should create a community-based, residential treatment facility for those struggling with addiction.  Dr. Brian Lovins is with the University’s Corrections Institute.  He says, “Providing community-based, residential facilities allows for integration into the community a lot easier.”

He added the jail is not the place to provide addiction-treatment options and says jails can’t utilize federal dollars to provide treatment services, while a dedicated treatment facility can.

The study also suggests county officials expand the scope of pretrial services, develop a Public Defender’s Office, expand pre-arrest and prosecutorial diversion programs and expand Community Corrections’ programming.