GRANT COULD CURB RETURN VISITS TO JAIL

Goal Is To Help Mentally Ill, Substance Addicts Get Stable

Shelby County learned Friday it will receive a $900,000 federal grant that
could reduce the revolving door of inmates with mental and substance abuse
problems in the county jail.

The three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration is "like a dream come true," said Shelby County Mayor A C
Wharton.

Wharton, former public defender, long sought to draw attention to the large
numbers of inmates jailed because of crimes related to mental illness,
drugs or alcohol. About one-fourth of Shelby County jail inmates at any
time have mental or substance abuse problems, officials have said.

U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) wrote a letter to federal officials in
support of the county's request for the funds.

Mayoral spokesman Susan Adler Thorp said the grant will allow counselors to
interview impaired inmates, assess the situation and see if they need
medical care or housing in the community.

The grant will focus mostly on those who commit misdemeanor crimes.

"The goal is to get these people stabilized so they won't be disruptive and
go back in jail," she said.

Nancy Lawhead, assistant to Wharton for health policy, said it is quite a
distinction for Shelby County to get the grant.

"It is very competitive," she said, noting only seven counties in the
country were chosen to receive funding.

Lawhead, who helped write the grant proposal, said the purpose is to make
sure that inmates jailed primarily for crimes caused by their impairment
are "connected to treatment and housing when they come out of jail. This
will stabilize them in the community, and we are hoping to reduce
recidivism in the jail."

She said the program will not let people out of jail early, though some
judges might be more willing to be lenient if they know a misdemeanant has
housing and treatment in the community.

Ford said he was pleased to help the county. "The money will help the
county keep order in our jails and better manage and treat inmates with
mental health and substance abuse problems," Ford said.