Putnam County officials may have found a way to give offenders with mental health issues the help they need and keep them out of jail.
Putnam Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers told the County Commission about the proposed pretrial treatment diversion program at its meeting Tuesday morning.
Stowers said that 80 percent of people in regional jails have treatable mental health issues. Most of these offenders are awaiting trial and cannot make bail to get out of jail.
The program would only consider nonviolent offenders with no prior violent or sex offense charges, most of who would already be out on bail if they had to means to make bail. "These are low level non-violent offenders that are being held in jail and most of them have mental health issues," Stowers said.
For instance, Stowers gave the example of two people who had been arrested together. The first offender was arrested for breaking and entering, and the second person, who was driving the car, was arrested for being an accessory to breaking and entering. The offender who broke into the house made bond in seven days, but Stowers said the offender driving the car had mental health problems and is still in jail six months later.
The county received a grant of $115,000 to implement this program.
Stowers said the courts experimented with this on a limited basis. Six people were deferred to mental health facilities or other programs, saving the county $30,000 before the program has officially started. Each inmate in the regional jail costs the county $48 a day.
Kevin White, who has managed the Prestera program in Putnam County for the last three years and has 25 years of community counseling experience, would lead the panel of mental health professionals.
This panel would report to the mental health court at the end of the week and recommend which offenders should be deferred out of the jail and into a mental health facility or use another plan.
"We all know mental health services are well underfunded and theres a lot of difficulty to get service for mental health," Stowers said.
Prestera received a grant that will allow it to hire a therapist, community engagement specialist and addiction coach. These three employees will work with White to ensure that any offenders with mental health issues will receive the proper assistance.
One of the main problems with receiving mental health treatment is transportation. The offender's attorney or probation officer can't take the person to a mental health treatment center, but one of the three employees can. They will also serve as pretrial advocates for the offenders, along with White.
In order to use the $115,000 from the grant in the most efficient way, Stowers requested $55,000 from the county to pay for White's salary.
In order to lead the panel, White would need to be an officer of the court, which the Supreme Court agreed to. Stowers expects the savings from keeping offenders out of jail will both pay for White's salary and save the county thousands of dollars.
Commissioners were impressed by the initiative, and passed a motion to draft a memorandum of understanding with the Supreme Court not exceeding $60,000.
"It sounds terrific. It's very proactive, which I think is something we need to be doing," Commissioner Joe Haynes said. "It sounds like a marvelous program and the amount of money saved ... maybe we might come out ahead."
Matt Boggs, executive director of Recovery Point of Huntington, said the facility has expanded to 100 beds, and Putnam County will be allotted three of those beds. The county has partnered with the facility to save money by keeping addicts out of jail. To keep the person at Recovery Point, it costs $32.50 a day instead of $48 a day in the regional jail. Boggs said the price will go down even further with the new expansion of the center.
Oliver Boston grew up in Eleanor and found himself with an addiction to alcohol and drugs by the time he graduated high school. He was arrested in January 2015 and spent seven months in regional jail - he was approved for mental health treatment but had no way of arranging it or getting there once he was out of jail.
Boston found himself at Recovery Point and reformed his life. Now, as of June 12, he's 17 months clean.
"I'm grateful I got the chance through Judge Reeder," Boston said. "I'm a different person today. Today I'm able to be a father and part of my community."
Boston currently works at the center as a peer mentor, carrying his message of recovery to other addicts and assisting them in their recovery process.
In other news:
The county commission approved a 8.3 percent rate increase in water utility usage for Putnam Public Service District.
The average customer who uses 4,000 gallons of water a month will see their bills increase from $31.23 to $33.84, according to Putnam PSD General Manager Mike McNulty.
Commissioner Andy Skidmore, who has West Virginia American Water for his residence and Putnam PSD for his business, said difference between service and bills is "night and day."
"I appreciate what Putnam PSD has been able to do in the area it covers. I wish it could cover more area but I know that's not in your realm of possibility right now," Skidmore said.
After the water crisis, Skidmore said he uses multiple filters with water provided by West Virginia American Water, but feels safer drinking from the water Putnam PSD provides.
Commissioner Steve Andes agreed and said he prefers Putnam PSD's water service.
"I'd rather drink that than bottled water to be honest with you," Andes said.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.