Council members Sue Ann Mitchell and Ernie Wiggins

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert told the Kosciusko County Council on Thursday, Feb. 8 that rehabilitation for jail inmates addicted to drugs or alcohol is high on his priority list.

During his monthly report to the council, Goshert announced his intentions to seek grants from several sources that could enable the adoption of a program called J-CAP, or Jail Chemical Addictions Program.

“I think it’s important that we look at what J-CAP is,” said Goshert. “We’ve got to provide some type of rehabilitation.” Goshert said that most people who come into the doors of his jail have substance abuse in common. Without rehabilitation, he said, the jail doors become revolving ones.

“We are never going to be able to arrest our way out of this,” he said.

According to Goshert, J-CAP is a 90-day program that provides people in need with such services as behavior therapy, substance abuse counseling and other programs such as help with parenting and domestic violence issues. He added that even after an inmate is released, the need may not necessarily go away. “We’ve got to get them something for after they get out,” he said.

According to Kosciusko County Auditor Michelle Puckett, grants will be sought through state attorney general’s office, K-21 and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Later this month, a coalition of representatives from Kosciusko County will travel to Dearborn County to observe the program firsthand.

One of Goshert’s key partners in the planning for the program will be locally-based mental healthcare organization The Bowen Center as well as women’s shelter The Beaman Home.