New resource center helps people leaving Salt Lake County jail transition back to community

New resource center helps people leaving Salt Lake County jail transition back to community. Pilot program launched in April and officially launched August. So far, staff have helped about 850 people. . The program is among the first of its kind in the nation. It's support to break a bad cycle. Jenny Wilson hopes it will lead to fewer people being booked again. The changes have already made a “night and day” difference. They are transitioning from ‘good luck’ to ”Hey, how can we help you in this phase of your journey?“

Salt Lake County has a new resource center to help people leaving jail transition back to community. The main goal is to reduce recidivism. The county applied for a Department of Justice grant in 2021 and got $1 million this year to renovate the space and operate the program. It also got money from the American Rescue Plan Act. If the project works, the county will find a way to continue to fund it.

Temitope Olaleye was released from jail. He was given a phone number to call for a free cell phone. Courtney Blazor, a case manager with Criminal Justice Services, helped him with his release paperwork. She also helped another person with a referral for mental health treatment. The program provides housing, substance misuse treatment, mental Health treatment and information about legal services. It also provides vouchers for clothes or shoes, and provides a landline so people can call their loved ones. In July, before the program’s formal launch, Wilson”s office received a letter from someone who  was recently released.