Counties are implementing thoughtful and robust strategies to address the distinctive needs of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) who are returning to the community from jail. Nearly two-thirds of people sentenced to jail meet the criteria for drug use or dependence, and reentry from jail can be a pivotal point in the justice process. This is especially true in times of instability like the current COVID-19 pandemic. Counties are supporting people’s reentry through housing, employment and transportation as well as accessing treatment. NACo hosted a webinar series in March 2022 in conjunction with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) to highlight strategies counties are using to support people with substance use disorders that are leaving jail. Presenters discuss strategies counties can use to partner with government agencies and service providers to share information about and develop jail reentry strategies that encompass training and workforce development, obtaining housing, accessing transportation and making connections to behavioral health treatment.

Tagged In:

About the Series

Counties are implementing thoughtful and robust strategies to address the distinctive needs of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) who are returning to the community from jail. Nearly two-thirds of people sentenced to jail meet the criteria for drug use or dependence, and reentry from jail can be a pivotal point in the justice process. This is especially true in times of instability like the current COVID-19 pandemic. Counties are supporting people’s reentry through housing, employment and transportation as well as accessing treatment.

NACo hosted a webinar series in March 2022 in conjunction with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) to highlight strategies counties are using to support people with substance use disorders that are leaving jail. Presenters discuss strategies counties can use to partner with government agencies and service providers to share information about and develop jail reentry strategies that encompass training and workforce development, obtaining housing, accessing transportation and making connections to behavioral health treatment.

Explore the Series

Image of GettyImages-956725674.jpg
Webinar

Jail Reentry for People with Substance Use Disorders Part 1: Meeting Immediate Needs

Counties are implementing thoughtful and robust strategies to address the distinctive needs of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) who are returning to the community from jail.

Image of Counseling_1.jpg
Webinar

Jail Reentry for People with Substance Use Disorders Part 2: Creating a Continuum of Care

County jail staff are partnering with local health and behavioral health providers and community-based organizations to ensure that people who are receiving treatment in jail and continue to have access to treatment and services when they return to the community. Reentry from jail is a pivotal point in the justice process for individuals returning to the community who have substance use disorders (SUD); this is especially true in times of instability like the current COVID-19 pandemic. Creating a robust continuum of care for people leaving jails can reduce the likelihood relapsing, experiencing a behavioral health crisis or return to the justice system.

Join NACo for part two in a series on supporting people with SUD leaving jail. Presenters will discuss strategies counties can use to partner with community-based providers to ensure seamless connections to care when people are released from jail.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2017-AR-BX-K003 awarded to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of IIR or of the U.S Department of Justice.

Bike Hero

This webinar is part of a three-part webinar series. To watch Part 1 and Part 3 of the series follow the links below:

Image of Counseling_3.jpg
Webinar

Jail Reentry for People with Substance Use Disorders Part 3: Sharing and Using Data

Counties are finding innovative ways to use and share data to support reentry and engagement in treatment as well as identify people at risk of overdose. Reentry from jail is a pivotal point in the justice process for individuals returning to the community who have substance use disorders (SUD); this is especially true in times of instability like the current COVID-19 pandemic. A key component of ensuring that individuals get the treatment and services they need is sharing information and collecting data on individuals being served.

Join NACo for part three in a series on supporting people with a substance abuse disorder leaving jail. Presenters will discuss strategies counties can implement to use and share data for making strategic policy decisions and enhancing coordination of treatment and services to support recovery and improve individual outcomes.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2017-AR-BX-K003 awarded to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of IIR or of the U.S Department of Justice.

This webinar was part of a three-part webinar series. To watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the series follow the links below: 

Related News

1496541963
Advocacy

The Michelle Alyssa Go Act: Why Reforming the IMD Exclusion Matters for County Behavioral Health

Reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2025, the bipartisan Michelle Alyssa Go Act (H.R. 5462) aims to modernize the IMD exclusion and expand access to care.

2192555956-
Advocacy

CMS issues guidance on six-month Medicaid renewals

On March 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a letter to State Medicaid Directors with implementation guidance on six-month Medicaid renewals required under H.R. 1. 

1096177858
Advocacy

White House Executive Order establishes national substance use disorder response

On January 29, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) establishing the Great American Recovery Initiative, a new federal effort aimed at coordinating a national response to substance use disorder (SUD).

Behavioral health
Advocacy

SAMHSA cancels, reinstates thousands of behavioral health grants

Late on Wednesday, January 14, the Administration announced that thousands of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants that had been terminated just one day earlier would be reinstated.

GettyImages-2221632541.jpg
Advocacy

CMS requires state Medicaid suspension upon arrest versus termination

Effective January 1, 2026, federal law now requires states to suspend, rather than terminate, Medicaid coverage when an individual is incarcerated.