Salt Lake County Jail Resource and Reentry Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The Salt Lake County (SLCo) Jail Resource and Reentry Program (JRRP) is a collaboration between SLCo Criminal Justice Services (CJS), SLCo Sheriff’s Office, Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association (LDA), and Valley Behavior Health (VBH). JRRP’s main purpose is to provide individuals exiting incarceration with resources and information to successfully navigate their return to the community. JRRP serves all individuals being released from the Salt Lake County Jail, many of whom are struggling with substance use or mental health disorders, living in poverty or returning to an environment that contributed to their incarceration. Individuals can get information and resources regarding court appearances, conditions of supervision and/or assist with treatment, housing, employment, and transportation needs. Since first opening in April 2022, JRRP has provided information and referrals to over 2,500 individuals. One of the key elements of the program was integrating partners in community supervision, legal services, behavioral health, and community providers. We have provided over 230 community food referrals, 172 employment referrals, 417 Medicaid referrals, and transported several clients directly to treatment center for assessment and treatment. Over 1,000 individuals received court and/or community supervision information. The initial success demonstrated by explaining upcoming court hearings, explaining community supervision requirements, and linking clients to community services quickly are encouraging signs that Salt Lake County has implemented a program that can have a significant impact on recidivism and improved outcomes for clients integrating back into the community.