205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 10/22/2020 - The Kittitas County Corrections Center in Ellensburg has received a federal grant to support expanded treatment of substance abuse issues
The Kittitas County Corrections Center has been awarded a grant of $600,000 from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide improved treatment for inmates with diagnosed substance use disorders. These federal funds will be received over three years and will be used to develop a working partnership with a community-based provider of Medication-assisted-treatment (MAT) for inmates with addiction and other issues. Treatment and counseling programs begun in the jail will be handed off for ongoing outpatient treatment after a jail sentence is completed. One of the criteria for our jail’s selection for this award was the comparative shortage of treatment options and facilities in our county. Around 30% of inmates report substance abuse disorders at the time of booking at KCCC, and rates may be significantly higher. Continuing abuse of drugs or alcohol reduces the likelihood an offender will successfully rejoin their community once their jail sentence is served; and those with untreated addictions are far likelier to commit further crimes and find their way back to jail. MAT programs are proven to increase the chances for successful integration back into the community and reduce recidivism. This grant-funded MAT program will dovetail with other current and new recovery and assistance programs at our jail. Like those other programs, it will not impact sentencing or jail time. The goal of these interventions is not to soften our criminal justice system or coddle inmates. We recognize that jail time represents a unique opportunity to intervene and have an impact on the lives of offenders. Most low-level crimes are committed by repeat offenders, and many of these offenders have untreated drug and mental health conditions. Breaking people out of the dependency-driven cycle of crime improves public safety and the quality of life in our community; and that is the goal of these programs. The Kittitas County Corrections Center exists to protect our community and improve public safety. The jail accomplishes its goal, first and foremost, by isolating offenders from the community; but it presents the opportunity to do more—to stabilize offenders and change the course of their lives. Our outstanding Corrections staff and opportunities like this grant-funded MAT program create openings for our criminal justice system to excel in fulfilling its mission and the mission of our Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Clay Myers
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Lieutenant Ed BuntinKittitas County Corrections Centeredward.buntin@co.kittitas.wa.us509-962-7527