There are many programs for inmates at the Washington County Jail. They have been designed not only to enhance the safety and order of the jail, but also to improve public safety by making inmates more productive upon release.
Inmates can participate in a wide array of opportunities and are provided a schedule and sign up instructions.
Religious services
Drug and alcohol prevention groups
Religion-based life skills and substance abuse classes
Cognitive and behavioral groups targeting violence prevention, personal control, and problem solving skills
Women's groups on anger management and domestic violence prevention
Life skills classes in parenting, computer skills, and finding and keeping employment
Education
General Educational Development (GED) testing preparation
Basic adult education classes
GED completion
Individual tutoring
Credit recovery
High school completion
English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classes
Intensive cognitive restructuring and skill building programs
In-depth drug and alcohol relapse prevention groups
We Plan for Success from the Very Start
Shortly after lodging, Jail Programs counselors assess assigned inmates as the first step toward developing a long-term plan for the inmate's successful transition back into the community as a productive citizen.
The latest assessment tool helps them identify not only the history of each inmate, but also to gain insights into what motivates them and what support factors could make them more productive when they leave jail. The goal is to reserve jail beds and save jail costs by identifying low risk offenders. Those with a lower likelihood of returning to jail can be quickly returned to the community before they lose their job, house, and family ties. This allows jail counselors to spend more time with inmates who are at a high risk to return to jail.
Eligibility
Eligibility for program activities depends upon the inmate's security classification and other factors, such as sentencing status, length of stay, assessed needs, and behavior within the jail. Participation in many of these activities is dependent upon cooperative and responsible behavior.
Program activities target the issues most likely to result in ongoing criminal behavior, including anti-social attitudes, impulsive behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, and skills deficits.
Inmates who are coping with chronic mental illness or developmental disorders can participate in treatment activities if deemed appropriate by the jail's medical health care provider.
Caring for Children of Incarcerated Parents
For inmates with children, the jail offers a process that allows these inmates to request support for their children through the schools and referrals to the Family Justice Initiative. The Family Justice Initiative is a grant-funded organization created specifically to help the children of incarcerated parents, and their families, through assistance with resources as well as counseling services.
