JCAP offering inmates skills to succeed after release

Kosciusko County Jail is home to the Jail Chemical Addiction Program, a four-month recovery program for incarcerated men and women.

The program was started in 2018. A large number of groups have graduated through the program.

Casey Trombley, JCAP coordinator, explained the program is for inmates who have a history of drug related offenses who are waiting for court or are incarcerated for more than four months. There’s no promise an inmate completing the course will have their sentence modified.

“Some might be good candidates,” Trombley said, but the time of incarceration hasn’t been met or court dates are less than the time the course will take. Often attorneys will work with the court to continue the case until the accepted candidate completes the course. “It looks better if they are trying to improve their lives and take a new path,” Trombley stated.

Only 12 inmates can take the course at a given time. Just recently there were six female inmates taking the course. The next course, starting two to three weeks after the female course, will be offered to 12 men. “There’s not enough room to hold both men and women at the same time,” Trombley stated.

Eligible participants must apply to be a part of the program. Those who have sex offenses or violent offenses do not qualify. “Only those with drug offenses as a matter of court record in their criminal history and here four months can apply,” Trombley said.

The applications are then reviewed by Trombley and representatives from the prosecutor’s office, judges, community corrections, work release, probation, jailers and sheriff.

Once accepted into the program, the work begins. “There is homework,” said Trombley.

Participants work on their GEDs if necessary. There are parenting classes providing skills to be a better parent, and healthy relationship classes showing what healthy relationships look like and boundaries. Other classes include self-esteem, domestic violence and more taught by Trombley, who is a licensed clinical social worker.

Each JCAP member has a Celebrate Recovery book used in the classes. There are other books used, as well as handouts and pamphlets. They go through moral recognition therapy that looks at self-reflection, choices, where they are today, what happened or could have happened if they made different life choices. They also look at different and better choices.

The classes run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. “There’s stuff going on all the time. Some days are heavier than others,” said Trombley. There are no classes on Saturday or Sunday. Each class is in one-hour increments. On Thursday classes are from noon to 6 p.m. The class members spend time a total of four hours a week, in two-hour increments, volunteering at the animal shelter or volunteering for community service. A total of 20 hours of community service is part of the program.

Because of the rigorous programs, class time and need for study, the participants are in their own block, different from other inmates. “This gets them out of the criminal jail thinking. They are not with the general population.”

“We have more applicants than space. I wish we had more space,” Trombley said.

She took over the program in January. “It’s been a dream of mine. I was with the prosecutor’s office for five years and saw the paperwork,” she said. She felt there could be opportunity for change for those individuals. “I had the chance to help in a different way.”

Those who complete the course receive a certificate of graduation and participate in a graduation ceremony.

JCAP relies on community support from individuals, businesses and organizations and grants. No taxpayer money is spent on the courses or materials.