The following article was written for a journalism class.
By Archita Aggarwal
LEXINGTON, Va. — The Rockbridge Regional Jail director told Lexington officials that freed prisoners will soon be getting a program to help keep them from returning to jail.
Last night, Jail Superintendent Derek Almarode told the City Council that he hopes a new Community Corrections program will address the problem of a revolving door between the jail and environments that support criminal activity.
“This will probably set you back on your chair,” he said before reporting a recidivism rate of 84% this year.
Council member J. Charles Aligood asked whether the inmates had a place to go upon release.
Almarode said there have been multiple inmates that did not have a place to go to.
“A lot of times, offenders find themselves institutionalized in their social environment, so when they are released, they find themselves going right back into that,” Almarode said. “It’s highly probable that they reoffend in that situation.”
With many reoffenders being incarcerated in the regional jail, the facility is now 250% over its operational capacity. The jail, therefore, also has an active request for proposal on its website for expansion or construction of a larger facility.
Mayor Frank W. Friedman pointed out that the facility still has debt that needs to be paid off annually through the year 2028.
“As we plan for the future, we haven’t paid off what we already built,” he said.
The mayor also asked if there was a specific goal or objective the proposed community commission is working towards to see a change in the recidivism rate.
“I think we truly have a great opportunity to see at least a 50% reduction [in the recidivism rate],” Almarode said. ““Now, that’s large, but go big or go home.”
He said the jail administrators have been focusing on establishing work programs and programs through which inmates can obtain their driver’s license back or get a restricted permit. They have also been exceptionally successful in finding inmates jobs.
Their next step is to prepare inmates for these jobs during their incarceration. And if they are released, to provide them with counselling services to help during trials and tribulations of life as they re-enter society.
The jail administration is currently also involved in a grant that provides housing for released inmates.
“It is temporary, but it does get them on their feet,” said Almarode.
Regarding substance abuse among inmates, Council member Marylin E. Alexander asked how drug education is provided.
Almarode said that assigned inmates receive counselling from an external counselor and have educational programs about substance abuse. The long-term plan is to provide follow-up counciling and abuse treatment even after their re-entry into society.
“When non-violent drug offenders who are addicted to narcotics arrive in our facility and we detox them, what we find is a mental and medical train wreck,” said Almarode.
Mental health care can change their lives.
“If we get them settled, we may actually see a different person in 45 to 60 days than we saw on day one,” said Almarode.
Almarode concluded the presentation by inviting everyone present at the council meeting to visit the jail.
“Our doors are always open, and the lights are always on,” he said.