Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, others, receive total over $215,000 for drug treatment program

Boston – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded nearly $215,000 in federal funding to eight Massachusetts sheriff’s offices in support of their substance abuse treatment programs. The federal Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant program is aimed at breaking the cycle of drugs and violence by reducing the demand for, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs.

“The RSAT grant awards help individuals suffering from substance misuse issues recover and reintegrate successfully into society,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our Administration remains committed to addressing the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts by connecting those in need with critical resources to help them in recovery.”

“These awards will provide frontline workers in our sheriff’s offices with the needed resources to serve those battling addiction,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Their work provides services, builds support networks of those with lived experience and facilitates resources beyond their incarceration.”

The RSAT grant program allows departments to re-examine the way they provide substance abuse treatment to individuals in their custody with the goal of breaking the cycle of drugs and violence by reducing the demand for use and trafficking of illegal drugs. For more than 20 years, the U.S. Department of Justice’ Bureau of Justice Assistance has entrusted RSAT funding distribution and administration to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s (EOPSS) Office of Grants and Research (OGR).

“Communities benefit from OGR’s commitment to steward grant opportunities and use awards to create meaningful progress in public safety,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence M. Reidy. “The RSAT funding allows programming and public safety professionals to work together to address addiction, which remains a persistent cause of recidivism. Each participant, regardless of their starting point, can use RSAT programing to embrace sobriety and achieve their goals.”

RSAT grant programs enhance the capability of correctional institutions to provide services for incarcerated individuals. Each initiative prepares offenders for reintegration into the communities from which they are from by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs. Beyond incarceration, the programs also assist participants and their communities during the reentry process.

The RSAT grants include:

Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office
$25,000.00
Jail-Based Treatment Program

Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office
$29,997.87
Residential Treatment Program

Bristol County Sheriff’s Office
$25,000.00
Jail-Based Treatment Program

Essex County Sheriff’s Office
$25,000.00
Jail-Based Treatment Program

Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office
$30,000.00
Residential Treatment Program

Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office
$25,000.00
Jail-Based Treatment Program

Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office
$25,000.00
Jail-Based Treatment Program

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office
$29,640.00
Residential Treatment Program