Just in Reach Program

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

More than ten percent of those sentenced to prison are homeless prior to their incarceration. A significant number of these homeless individuals continually cycle between incarceration, community shelters and hospital emergency rooms. Through the Just in Reach Program (JIR), the Sheriff’s Department forged a collaborative network of service providers to offer comprehensive case management to address the needs of chronically homeless inmates. JIR includes a thorough in-custody assessment of targeted inmates when they arrive in jail, creation of a case plan while in jail, a seamless transition to services as the individual leaves custody and continued case management and services in the community. Industrialized case management matches the specific needs of each person and includes employment, housing, life skills, mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation. The JIR ultimately helps chronically homeless individuals transition to a stable, crime free self sustaining lifestyle.