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Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Once Again Recognized for Innovative Jail Programs



The National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO) is always looking to commend jail personnel for new and innovative ideas on how to improve and enhance facilities.

Yavapai County Jail

L to R – Chief Deputy David Rhodes, Jail Commander Jeff Newnum, Lt. Brian Silvernale-Jail Administration, and Tate MCotter – NIJO Executive Director (Courtesy Photo)

The Detention Facility Innovation Award is awarded to an agency which has demonstrated exceptional achievement in developing and/or enhancing a particular aspect or feature in the facility or in facility operations. This aligns with the NIJO’s goals of heading towards and using legal-based principles to continually update and improve the corrections workplace.

On June 7, 2018 at the NIJO conference in Scottsdale, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office was recognized for the 2018 Facility Innovation Award for its planning, development, implementation and outcomes of diversionary and re-entry based programs put into place within the last year.

Comments from YCSO

Within the last year, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has created and implemented thirteen (13) new programs, has applied for and been awarded nine (9) different grants and has introduced diversion/re-entry legislation that has been signed into law.

The Sheriff’s Office has created or improved partnerships with over thirty (30) criminal justice practitioners and community providers with the formation of the Yavapai County Mental Health Coalition. Through those partnerships, YCSO has facilitated services for nearly two thousand (2,000) inmates.

The common thread that has allowed for these successes is the ability to partner and build relationships with the network of providers. It is for these reasons that the Yavapai

County Sheriff’s Office was recognized for innovation in the area of diversion and re-entry efforts. Accepting this award on behalf of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office was Chief Deputy David Rhodes.

Breakdown On The Various Programs Follows as Presented During the Conference

Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT)
  • A cognitive-behavioral treatment system which leads to enhanced moral reasoning, better decision making and more appropriate behavior.
Health Start Pregnancy Program
  • Operated in conjunction with the Yavapai County Health Department, instructors educate and prepare Yavapai County’s pregnant inmates on available resources, what to expect leading up to delivery as well as best practices for parenting their child after delivery.
Yavapai Re-entry Employment Support Services
  • Through collaboration with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), Yavapai County inmates are provided with application and resume building assistance, interviewing technique training and connection to employers in Yavapai County.
Veteran Services
  • Through partnerships with US Vets and the Veterans Administration (VA), Yavapai County Sheriff’s office has begun identifying and referring eligible United States Veterans to treatment and services upon release.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS)
  • Understanding that incarceration touches more than just the offender, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with BBBS to bring positive adult interaction to children of Yavapai County affected by incarceration.
Parenting Inside Out
  • With research finding that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) being an accurate forecaster of future mental health and substance abuse disorders, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Yavapai County Community Health Department have brought “ACE” education to their inmate population. Through knowledge of this topic, they are able to provide appropriate tools for incarcerated individuals to recover from past trauma as well as enlightenment and reduction of trauma that they themselves may be causing within their family unit.
Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Enrollment
  • The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with AHCCCS has brought the ability to provide and submit AHCCCS applications for processing in their inmate population in order to ensure uninterrupted care upon release.
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Applications
  • Through the Utilization of the abilities and connections of their own volunteers, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office brought the ability for inmates to apply for SSI/SSDI benefits while in custody. Further than that, SOAR volunteers assist in the re-entry into society of qualifying individuals.
Transportation and Transitional Housing Services
  • Just as many of you have experienced, Transportation and Housing remains one of the biggest challenges for successful re-entry. Through the award of grants and partnerships with community providers, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has secured funding for the provision of transportation and transitional housing for at risk individuals exiting their jail facilities.
Yavapai County Re-Entry Program
  • Seeing benefits and success stories from prison re-entry programs, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office partnered with a local provider to bring community coaches to support and assist in the reintegration of qualifying persons re-entering their communities.
Post Arrest Diversion
  • Working with their County Attorney, Public Defender and Superior Court, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office designed and implemented a program to identify low level felony defendants suffering from a mental health or co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Upon identification, Sheriff’s Office staff would coordinate with Behavioral Health Home’s (BHH’s) for completion of an assessment and creation of a treatment plan. Upon the courts acceptance of the treatment plan and decision to divert into treatment, Sheriff’s Office staff would facilitate the transfer of services from YCSO to the designated provider.

Reach Out Initiative

As impressive as the above programs are, the most impressive, comprehensive and innovative program that the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office has developed and implemented is their Reach-Out Initiative. With the positive outcomes being experienced in the Post Arrest Diversion program, YCSO came to the realization that providing intervention at the earliest possible intercept within the criminal justice system could lead to a greater reduction in criminal activity, as well as promote successful outcomes by early intervention.

These realizations brought forth the ideology that identification and services should be available to all who are in need. Grant funding along with the recent recognition of the Arizona’s state legislature and Governor’s Office has allowed the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office to develop, implement and sustain this program with little out of pocket cost.

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