Albany, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announces his office has been named as the New York State Sheriff’s Association’s 2015 Innovative Program Award winner for the Jail Management Division’s Residential Treatment Program.
Sheriff Timothy B. Howard, Superintendent Thomas Diina, and members of the Jail Management Division attended Tuesday’s annual conference and awards ceremony in Albany to accept the award. This award marks the third straight year the Erie County Sheriff’s Office was selected as a top recipient of a sheriff’s association award. Last year Lieutenant Joseph Usinski was named the top VINE Coordinator (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) and in 2014, the sheriff’s office received the Innovative Program Award for its Veterans’ Housing Unit.
“I am honored to receive a top award from my peers for a third straight year,” Sheriff Howard said, “and I am proud of Superintendent Diina and his staff’s efforts in developing and implementing these innovative programs. I am very pleased with the collaboration between my office and Commissioner Michael Ranney’s department and the commissioner certainly shares in this award. Under my supervision, we have been able to develop these new programs which ultimately aid the inmate and reduce recidivism rates among certain segments of the inmate population.”
The Residential Treatment Program is a partnership with the Erie County Department of Mental Health to address incarcerated individuals with mental illness. This unique program was developed to provide the highest level of treatment for male inmates with serious mental illness. The unit is composed of 14 single-cell units with a central common space. Treatment is provided through weekly counseling sessions, discharge planning services and weekly group meetings that provide education on various topics relevant to the individuals’ treatment. Also, weekly assessments are conducted so mental health professionals can evaluate the treatment and track its benefits.
Commissioner Michael Ranney said, “The Department of Mental Health has worked diligently with the Sheriff’s Office and our partners at the University Psychiatric Practice to enhance programming for persons with mental illness in the jail. The Residential Treatment Unit demonstrates that treatment is effective and instrumental in a person’s recovery. We need to continue to work together to reduce the presence of persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Our efforts need to also be focused on developing strategies and interventions that best support individuals remaining in the community.”
The early data has indicated that the Residential Treatment Program has reduced the recidivism rates among inmates diagnosed with a serious mental illness to 45% - down from a 75% recidivism rate. Addition to the drop in the recidivism rate, the data indicates a significant reduction in inmates’ hostility and anger levels.