4 March, 2019
WASHINGTON – The National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Sheriffs’
Association (NSA) today announced the formation of a joint task force to reduce jail inmate
recidivism through continuity of health care services.
The task force, made up of NACo and NSA members representing county leaders, law
enforcement, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, behavioral health and veterans’ services, will
explore the impacts of the national mental and behavioral health crisis and the Medicaid Inmate
Exclusion Policy (MIEP), which strips federal health and veterans’ benefits from individuals
upon admission to jail – not upon conviction – leading to increased recidivism.
“Stripping federal health benefits from those jailed but not convicted, and are presumed
innocent, is a violation of their constitutional rights,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew
Chase. “By providing continuity of health care to those most in need, counties can help break the
cycle of recidivism exacerbated by untreated physical and mental illnesses and substance use
disorders.”
“This task force will work tirelessly to remove the roadblocks people face in getting the care they
need,” said NSA Executive Director and CEO Jonathan Thompson. “These experienced people
will fix this problem and help the thousands of mentally ill citizens trapped in Americas’ jail
without the proper care.”
Members of the new task force will explore the impacts of existing federal policies on recidivism
and health outcomes of local jail inmates. A focus will be placed on those individuals suffering
from mental health, substance use disorders and/or other chronic health illnesses.
An issue plaguing sheriffs and jails throughout the United States is that of the increasing number
of inmates with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. Due to the lack of community
resources, jails have become the de-facto mental health hospitals and treatment facilities and
have assumed the liability as well. Across the nation, there is growing reliance on local jails to
serve as “one-stop” treatment centers for these afflictions. Under current law, those who can
afford bail keep their health care while those unable to pay – who are most susceptible to illness
– face a gap in coverage. Research shows gaps in coverage lead to higher rates of recidivism
resulting in over-incarceration.
The double standard created by MIEP is putting undue strain on local judicial, law enforcement,
public safety and human services systems leading to increased health care costs and poorer
health outcomes. Having access to federal health benefits for non-convicted individuals would
allow for improved coordination of care, while decreasing short-term costs to local taxpayers and
long-term costs to the federal government.
The suspension of federal benefits for pre-trial detainees not only presents constitutional
challenges but also unjustly increases the fiscal impact on sheriffs and counties to pay for needed
medical and mental health care, that but for their incarceration, the federal government would
cover. These monies, if reinstated, would increase sheriffs’ ability to provide additional
programming and resources to inmates and allow for a smoother transition into communities for
the inmate without a lapse in benefits and medical care.
Read more about the need to reinstate federal health care benefits for non-convicted justice-
involved individuals here.
Members of the Task Force:
1.
Co-Chair: Hon. Nancy Sharpe
Commissioner, Arapahoe County, Colo.
Co-Chair: Hon. Greg Champagne
Sheriff, St. Charles Parish, La.
Delrice Adams
Executive Director, Cook County, Ill. Justice
Advisory Council
Hon. Michael Adkinson
Sheriff, Walton County, Fla.
Hon. Kathryn Barger
Supervisor, Los Angeles County, Calif.
Hon. Roy Charles Brooks
Commissioner, Tarrant County, Texas
Hon. Brett Clark
Sheriff, Hendricks County, Ind.
Hon. Jerry Clayton
Sheriff, Washtenaw County, Mich.
Hon. Thomas Dart
Sheriff, Cook County, Ill.
Hon. Jerry Demings
Mayor, Orange County, Fla.
Hon. John Flynn
District Attorney, Erie County, N.Y.,
Member of the Board of Directors, National
District Attorneys Association
Hon. Daron Hall
Sheriff, Davidson County, Tenn.
Hon. Michael Heldman
Sheriff, Hancock County, Ohio
Hon. David Hudson
Judge, Sebastian County, Ark.
Hon. Clay Jenkins
Judge, Dallas County, Texas
Hon. Peter J. Koutoujian
Sheriff, Middlesex County, Mass.
Hon. Steven Leifman
Associate Administrative Judge, Eleventh
Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami-Dade
County, Fla.
Nick Macchione
Director, Health and Human Services
Agency, San Diego County, Calif.
Hon. John McMahon
Sheriff, San Bernardino County, Calif.
Hon. Gabriel Morgan Sr.
Sheriff, Newport News, Va.
Hon. Christopher Moss
County Executive, Chemung County, N.Y.
Hon. Eric Severson
Sheriff, Waukesha County, Wisc.
Hon. Helen Stone
Commissioner, Chatham County, Ga.
Hon. Tim Svenson
Sheriff, Yamhill County, Ore.
Hon. Janet Thompson
Commissioner, Boone County, Mo.
Hon. Errol Toulon, Jr.
Sheriff, Suffolk County, N.Y.
Hon. Jenny Wilson
Mayor, Salt Lake County, Utah
Edward Zachary
Director, Veterans Service Office, Medina
County, Ohio
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The National Association of Counties (NACo) strengthens America’s counties, including nearly
40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. Founded in 1935, NACo unites
county officials to advocate for county government priorities in federal policymaking; promote
exemplary county policies and practices; nurture leadership skills and expand knowledge
networks; optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings; and enrich the public’s
understanding of county government. www.naco.org
The National Sheriffs’ Association is one of the largest associations of law enforcement
professionals in the U.S., representing more than 3,000 elected Sheriffs across the nation, and
with a total membership of more than 20,000. NSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to
raising the level of professionalism among Sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the field of law
enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice. Throughout its seventy-eight year history, NSA
has also served as an information resource for all law enforcement, as well as State governments
and the Federal government.
