Future mental health spending at jail uncertain

Nov. 24--Would you please let Jackson County voters know how much funding is included in the new jail budget for hiring more mental health case workers and mental health facility management at the jail? From what I understand, Jackson County Mental Health's budget and personnel are already stretched to the max. Providing space for them to work in the new jail is budgeted, but what about salaries for staffing?

-- Karen, Phoenix

If a proposal for a new jail goes to voters in May 2020, the Southern Oregon chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has asked that ballot wording specify what part of the jail operating budget would be devoted to mental health and addiction treatment services in jail.

However, the current Jackson County Board of Commissioners, Budget Committee and sheriff can't legally commit future elected officials to specific spending in the future, Jackson County Administrator Danny Jordan said.

If approved, a newly built jail could open in 2024 to replace the current jail. Construction costs are estimated at $170.9 million.

Meesha Blair, a mental health advocate for NAMI Southern Oregon, said she believes Sheriff Nathan Sickler is committed to improving mental health care in jail. But she doesn't know if future sheriffs would share the same view.

Although it can't be known now how much money would be devoted to mental health in the future, county officials have worked out estimates on operating costs, which include salary costs.

The operating budget for a new jail with 800 prisoners would start at $29 million per year and grow with inflation and other costs. That's $15.5 million more than the $13.5 million budget for the current 315-bed jail.

For the current fiscal year, the Jackson County Jail has $718,000 budgeted for physical and mental health care, Sickler said.

If voters approve funding for a new jail, the estimated budget for physical and mental health care would jump to $4.3 million in the first year the newly built jail opens, he said.

Sickler would like to increase the number of mental health professionals working in the jail from two to 10. Six of those would work with inmates inside the jail and four would work to divert people with mental health issues from jail under the ideal scenario, he said.

Jail Commander Josh Aldrich said it's very difficult to tease apart how much money is currently spent on physical health care compared to mental health care. A nurse helping an inmate, for example, may often deal with both mental and physical health issues, he said.

What is known is that jail inmates tend to have worse physical and mental health than the general population, and are more likely to suffer from addiction.

In addition to boosting staffing, the new jail would have room to provide more mental health and addiction treatment. People could be kept longer to receive treatment and connect with community services for when they are released, according to Jackson County Mental Health.

The current jail lacks enough space for people to meet privately with therapists.

Inmates are regularly released due to overcrowding.

The jail has teamed with Jackson County Community Justice to take newly released inmates by van to a resource room at the county's probation and parole building. People getting out can learn about mental health services and other resources in the community. If eligible, they can sign up for Oregon Health Plan benefits that cover physical, mental and dental care.

Inmates already on OHP lose coverage while they're in jail, but Sen. Jeff Merkley has introduced legislation in Congress that would allow them to keep their coverage. Local coordinated care organizations that manage OHP benefits for residents say they support the change because it would improve the overall physical and mental health of inmates, ultimately resulting in lower costs.

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