Enhancing Law Enforcement's Role for Incarcerated Populations and Resources Within the Community

Location: A311-312 GWCC - Sheriff Darin Balaam instituted the Detention Services Unit in 2019 in an effort to bridge the gap of crucial resources for incarcerated individuals transitioning back into the community. The unit enhances law enforcement's role by offering case management services for inmates to connect them with temporary identification for access to medical appointments, medications, applying for state licensure through the Department of Motor Vehicles, applications for treatment programs, transitional living and other housing resources, a community resource list, and activation of Nevada State Medicaid services. The unit also provides direct transportation to substance use programs for individuals who have been court ordered to treatment for substance use. In addition to services, the unit manages two in-house programs. The first is the Veteran Barracks Unit, which offers supportive programming for incarcerated veterans that includes case management, connection to resources through Nation's Finest of Reno, and discharge planning. The second in-house program is the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program as part of being a licensed and certified Level 1 - Opioid Treatment Program. The MAT Program includes all three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder, individual counseling and substance use group counseling, treatment planning, case management, and discharge planning. Narcan kits also are provided at release. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office MAT Program is currently the only one offered in the State of Nevada. In March 2023, the MAT Program established a pilot project with the Nevada Department of Corrections to expand MAT services into the state prison system.