TERRE HAUTE —
The closing of a residential drug treatment facility because of a $400,000 deficit has caused concern among Vigo County officials who rely on the program as an alternative to incarceration.
Hamilton Center Inc. has announced the closing of its seven-bed residential addiction treatment facility in Terre Haute, effective July 23. The facility has provided recovery services for men age 18 and older since 2005, and many of the people in the program were assigned there through a Vigo County court.
The implications of the facility’s closure has sent a shockwave through the local justice system.
Judge Michael Lewis of Vigo Superior Court 6 told the Tribune-Star that the 28-day program has been an essential tool for the courts to use in getting addictions help for defendants.
“Keeping them involved in some type of rehab keeps them off of drugs,” Lewis said. “I’m not sure about the success rate, but I know if it helps even a few to turn their lives around, then it’s worth it. If we can save even one life, it’s a good thing.”
A majority of the inmates in the Vigo County jail have some type of drug or alcohol addiction. Often, those inmates are not released from the jail until they have had some time to detox, making them better candidates to successfully complete a treatment program.
“Any incentive we can give these people to stay away from drugs, stay away from alcohol, we utilize. And that’s another one that’s gone now,” Lewis said, noting that the Fellowship House sober living environment closed its doors in April because of cash flow issues. The Hamilton Center closure leaves Freebirds Solutions Center, Club Soda and Club Gobi as the only sober living environments available in Vigo County, Lewis said.
Defense attorney Christopher Shema said the loss of the 28-day program is unfortunate for people who are not capable of getting help on their own and who need a drug-free environment. He predicted it will add to the county’s jail overcrowding and budget problems.
“The most expensive thing to do for someone is to incarcerate them,” Shema said. “If you can put someone in a residential treatment program or a halfway house where they can get the help they need, at a much lower cost than incarceration, everyone wins.”
Shema said many of his indigent court-assigned clients benefit from drug and alcohol treatment programs, and if they do not have treatment options other than being warehoused in jail, they are more likely to be re-arrested for other crimes in the future.
“It’s like having a toolbox with only a hammer, and sometimes a screwdriver or pliers is the more efficient tool,” Shema said.
Sheriff Jon Marvel agrees that the closing of the Hamilton Center program is unfortunate for the community.
“Even though it’s only seven beds,” Marvel said, “those seven beds are [freed up] every 28 days, so seven a month are basically getting out of jail into treatment.”
Moving nonviolent inmates into drug treatment programs is not only more cost-efficient, he said, but it means a person is less likely to commit future crimes because of a drug addiction. Many inmates convicted of residential burglary or theft committed those crimes in order to get money to buy drugs.
The county jail has an ongoing overcrowding issue and currently exceeds the maximum cap of 268 set by an agreement with the Indiana Civil Liberties Union following a 2000 lawsuit. But even if the jail were built to have a 500-inmate capacity, Marvel said, it could still be full because of drug-related crime in the community.
Lewis said he and other county judges found out Friday about the program’s closure.
So what’s the court system to do now to deal with the loss of services?
“I don’t know,” Lewis said. “It’s unknown. Other than sending them to the county’s alcohol and drug program.”
The closing of the addictions residential facility was announced last week with the regrets of Hamilton Center CEO Galen Goode.
“Unfortunately, our addictions residential facility operates at a $400,000 deficit, so we had to make a tough decision to maintain services through our much larger outpatient programs than residential,” Goode said in a media release. “It is a very difficult decision because the residential program shows great clinical outcomes. We will continue working with other community agencies to find access to residential facilities for those suffering from addictions.”
While the county does budget some taxpayer dollars for Hamilton Center, a dedicated funding source did not exist for the 28-day program. Until recently, Hamilton Center was able to support the program through excess revenue from other areas.
In fiscal year 2009, the addictions residential facility served 117 clients, while Vigo County Addiction Services, which will continue to provide intensive outpatient services, served 1,292 clients.
July 23 is the last day for the 28-day program in order to ensure treatment completion for those currently enrolled.
“We will continue to work with those clients on an outpatient basis as necessary,” said Dr. Cynthia Sartor, executive director of Client Support Services. “Our dedicated staff at the addictions residential facility are passionate about what they do. As they have throughout the program, they will ensure that those who remain will have the appropriate community supports in place upon completion,” Sartor said.
Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Officials concerned by drug treatment facility closing
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
-
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
-
Contract signed for new Y
Papers are signed and the ink is in place for a new YMCA to operate in Terre Haute.
-
City to impose $30 release fee on towed vehicles
The Terre Haute City Council voted without opposition Thursday to impose a new $30 release fee on vehicles towed and impounded by the police as part of a criminal investigation.
-
Valley educators cautious on Indiana’s ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana is one of 10 states to receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind requirements.
-
Driver dies after Illinois school bus crash
“Brace yourself. Brace yourself,” Fay Pickering shouted to her students just before the school bus she was driving crossed U.S. 40 and landed in a ditch Thursday morning.
-
Trial date set for former WTH police chief
A July 23 trial date has been set for a former police chief of West Terre Haute accused of theft.
-
Motorcycle gang member pleads guilty in federal court
A member of an Indianapolis motorcycle gang who delivered methamphetamine to a Terre Haute dealer has pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court.
-
July trial date set for mother charged with child neglect
A July 30 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute mother charged with neglecting and battering her toddler.
-
Business hosting SPPRAK fundraiser
Java Haute is hosting the latest fundraiser sponsored by SPPRAK — Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness.
-
Valley high school cooking competition under way today
Clabber Girl Corp. and Gordon Food Services will host the fourth-annual High School Chef Competition, beginning today through Saturday, and again Feb. 18, in the Culinary Classroom at Clabber Girl.
- UPDATE: Marshall, Ill., school bus driver involved in accident dies; cause appears to be cardiac-related
-
Terre Haute road name game
What used to be called U.S. 40 from the Wabash River west through West Terre Haute to Interstate 70 needs to be renamed and, probably, get new street addresses, a Vigo County planner recommends.
-
MARK BENNETT: William Henry Harrison taught us how to campaign
William Henry Harrison is running for president, again.
It seems impossible, because today would be his 239th birthday, and America has never elected a deceased person to the Oval Office. -
Air National Guard cuts won’t hit 181st Intelligence Wing
The Air National Guard is taking the lion’s share of planned cuts announced last week by the U.S. Air Force. But no cuts are currently expected at Terre Haute’s 181st Intelligence Wing. In fact, the nation’s evolving defense strategy may spell growth at the local base.
-
Friends group takes over Ernie Pyle home in Dana
The western Indiana home in which renowned Hoosier journalist Ernie Pyle was born and an adjacent museum dedicated to preserving his legacy as a World War II correspondent have a new owner.
-
ISU rec center pool out of service while being repaired
Indiana State University is spending about $10,000 to repair a swimming pool at the Student Recreation Center, which opened in 2009.
-
Clinton man throws away, then recovers, $50,000 ticket
A Vermillion County man found himself in a scenario that strikes fear in the heart of Lottery players everywhere. He threw away a $50,000 winning ticket.
-
Show to feature talents of artists with disabilities
Artists whose disabilities have overshadowed their work get a chance to shine in the light of a prodigy this coming month.
-
Fort Wayne forester tells of damage
The emerald ash borer likely will cause as much as $8 million in damage to Fort Wayne’s ash trees by 2015, the city’s manager of forestry operations told a Terre Haute audience Tuesday.
-
Unclaimed assets now part of Goodwill auction site
Many of Indiana’s unclaimed assets are now on Goodwill’s online auction site, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Tuesday.
-
Toyota to increase Highlander output in Indiana
Toyota will increase production of the Highlander mid-size SUV in late 2013 at the company’s Princeton, Indiana plant. Hybrid and export versions will be included. The project is expected to create about 400 new jobs at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana Inc.
-
Friends of Ernie Pyle takes ownership, renames Dana museum
The western Indiana home in which renowned Hoosier journalist Ernie Pyle was born, and an adjacent museum dedicated to preserving his legacy as a World War II correspondent, have a new owner.
-
Spreading Goodwill
Goodwill Industries Inc. on Tuesday opened its third Terre Haute store.
-
Feds sending money to Feather Creek
Clinton residents have reason to celebrate.
Federal officials have granted more than $800,000 toward a $1.2 million project of widening and deepening Feather Creek, which has been a flooding problem in the city since the Great Depression. Work could begin in spring 2013. -
City to clean up Toney site
A contaminated petroleum site at the northwestern edge of Indiana State University’s campus will be transferred to the city of Terre Haute to remove the property from a pending sale.
-
Bennett: Terre Haute ‘moving in the right direction’
After four years of shrinking budgets and a slow economy, Terre Haute is “moving in the right direction,” Mayor Duke Bennett said Tuesday morning in his first “State of the City” address since being re-elected by Terre Haute voters in November.
Difficult financial and political battles are largely in the past, he said, and now the city can start moving forward in ways not possible in the past four years. -
Terre Haute group locates missing caver
An Iraq war veteran and caving enthusiast took his own life about half a mile from where he left his car on a rural road but more than four months passed before four young spelunkers exploring where they weren’t allowed found him deep inside a treacherous cave, Indiana conservation officers said Tuesday.
-
Schools celebrate rising graduation rates as ‘team effort’
For the fourth year in a row, Vigo County School Corp. graduation rates have topped the state average, school district officials said during a news conference Tuesday.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera?
Sandusky makes a statement
Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera?
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip
Toddler forced to run half-naked in snow
Halle Wants to Leave the Country
Northern Lights shine above earth
Plane makes perfect belly landing
Kris Jenner New Face of Arousal Oils
Trending: Zip it!
What's in Steve Jobs' FBI file?
SJP Talks About Replacing Demi Moore in 'Lovelace'
Over 200 dead dolphins wash ashore
Lady Gaga's Battle With Bulimia
Evacuation at Sea
Osama Bin Laden Zombie Movie: "Osombie" Teaser Released
VS Model Quits Over Religion
