New tax would fund detention programs

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

In July, the Larimer County Commissioners agreed to one jail-related sales tax issue for this November's ballot, and they soundly nixed a second.

Voters will be asked to approve a 0.25 percent sales tax increase--or 25 cents on a $100 purchase--to pay for treatment programs and facilities that could dramatically reduce recidivism at the Larimer County Detention Center. Those pushing for the programs say that, with reduced recidivism, the jail population could actually decrease over the next 14 years, or at least rise at a much slower rate. The programs would be geared to inmates with substance abuse or mental health issues.

"Financially, this is the most important thing that the county can address," said Larimer County Commissioner Glenn Gibson at a July 9 meeting. "We are striving to do something new, something different to improve our community, and I think our citizens will support it."

On July 22, the commissioners were approached by budget director Bob Keister about a second possible sales tax increase, one to pay for shortfalls in the operating budget of the jail. The three unanimously rejected that proposal, saying that the sheriff's office needs to reduce expenses.

"Until I start seeing some changes and explanations, I'm not going to approve anything," Commissioner Randy Eubanks said in an interview following the meeting.

Eubanks noted that the law enforcement budget has risen at a rate of about 8 percent a year, compared with 2 to 3 percent for other departments.

"We should be looking at tightening our belts," Eubanks said, adding that in the current economic slowdown, county residents are having to do just that.

Currently, jail operations are partially supported by a 0.2 percent sales tax, which is due to expire in 2014. Keister said an additional 0.3 percent sales tax would be needed to put jail operations back in the black. The jail has been operating in the red since 2003. By next year, reserve funds will be depleted and there will be a $2.2 million shortfall.

"We have a serious financial issue," Keister said.

Recidivism high

At the commissioners' July 9 work session, an advisory team called Alternatives to Incarceration explained what it wants to accomplish in terms of treatment for inmates with substance abuse or mental health problems.

The county's high recidivism rate prompted formation of the group late last year, and since then members have been crunching numbers to better understand why people return to jail multiple times--and what can be done about the problem. The group is composed of top-ranking officials from county government and community health organizations.

The local recidivism statistics are dramatic. "We have 3,600 people who keep coming back, often three or four times in three years," said Gary Darling, the county's criminal justice planning manager. "We're playing a shell game. We send people to jail, then to alternative sentencing, to the street and back to jail. We're not really treating people for the underlying problems."

The group looked at a sample time period, December 2007, and found that 60 percent of those booked into the jail had been there before. More than half suffered from substance abuse or mental health problems.

A 0.25 percent sales tax increase would generate about $10 million per year. While that amount would not cover all inmates needing services, it would provide funds for a new treatment facility and services for 745 inmates each year.

The group wants a local detox center, an acute treatment center for mental health crises and a residential treatment facility. These services are currently available in Greeley, but officials have pushed for a local facility for several years. Darling said all three services could be provided in one facility, with shared staff for increased efficiency.

"We think we have some really good ideas that can save the community a lot of money in terms of hard beds," said Kathy Snell, chair of the group and director of the Larimer County Division of Health and Human Services.

County commissioners enthusiastically endorsed the group's ideas. "This is an issue the community truly understands," said Commissioner Kathay Rennels. With better treatment programs, she added, the county would be doing the right thing for inmates and would also save money.

Locally, the recidivism rate for those with mental health issues alone is 56 percent. The rate for those with substance abuse problems is 69 percent, and for people with both issues, the recidivism rate is 81 percent over three years.

Carol Plock, executive director of the Health District of Northern Larimer County, pointed out that people with these problems have brains that don't work right. "No amount of punishment is going to fix that," she said.

Darling said that by putting effective treatment programs in place, the jail population could actually decrease by 2022, or at least increase at a much slower rate.

"The sooner we have something in place, the better," he said.

If nothing is done, Darling added, the detention center would likely need to be expanded by 2012 or 2014. An addition would cost $80 million to $90 million, he noted, and operating costs for the expansion alone would be close to $350 million over 20 years.

Treatment outlined

The group wants to treat county inmates with substance abuse or mental health issues in a comprehensive, research-based way, with a goal of helping these inmates become contributing members of society.

According to Plock, research has shown that effective treatment of substance abuse and mental health issues requires an extensive, integrated treatment plan.

"We apply these principles in tiny little bits and wonder why it doesn't work," she commented.

Specialty courts could help direct offenders to treatment programs when appropriate. With programs and facilities in place, Darling said, an inmate might do half of his time in jail and the other half in treatment.

Besides Snell, Darling and Plock, the Alternatives to Incarceration group includes Joe Ferrando, director of Community Corrections; Randy Ratliff, executive director of the Larimer Center for Mental Health; and Kendall Alexander, executive director of Island Grove Regional Treatment Center. Laurel Kubin of Larimer County Extension serves as facilitator for the group.