The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is seeing success in the jail alternatives program.

Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt noticed in his time as sheriff that he would see several repeat customers in the jail, so he wanted to make it a priority to get these people the help they need instead of having to keep coming back. Sandholdt and Lieutenant Reed Kious saw a need for a program like this and they have partnered with several community organizations that can help get individuals on the right path instead of turning to behavior that results in jail time.

Sandholdt and Kious both assure the community that individuals who need to be in jail will be there, and that people still need to be held accountable for their actions. However, in situations where someone is suffering from a mental health disorder or substance abuse, the Sheriffs office wants to connect them with resources to get them on the right path and back on their feet. People who qualify for the jail alternatives program will get connected with a jail alternatives coordinator who will not only get them help they need, but also follow up with them to make sure they continue to stay on track. Sandholdt says the ultimate goal is to get the citizens of Marion County who may be suffering the help they need so they don’t have to keep coming back to jail.

“Whether it be through public health, other vendors we utilize, or CROSS Mental Health we’ve come to an agreement that not everyone needs to come to jail, and we don’t want people to come to jail, so if there are ways we can divert those individuals, that is the ultimate goal.”

Hear more about the jail alternatives program from Sheriff Jason Sandholdt and Lieutenant Reed Kious on today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.