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Jail tours introduce board members to mental health issues
Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) - 8/24/2014
Aug. 24--BLOOMINGTON -- Paul Finch won't become a member of the McLean County Board until after the November general election, but he's gotten an early start on issues facing the county jail.
Finch, who is unopposed for a seat in District 6, took a tour of the jail with Sheriff Mike Emery, Assistant Jail Superintendent Jamie Kessinger and Operations Supervisor Diane Hughes.
Of special interest to Finch was the booking area where seriously mentally ill inmates are held, a practice that has gained the attention of the County Board and community during the past 18 months.
"None of the quarters used for housing people with mental health needs are intended for that purpose," Finch, a Democrat, said after the tour.
Walking through the booking area where 13 inmates with mental health and behavioral issues were housed, Kessinger put the facts on the table for Finch.
"This is basically our mental health ward," said Kessinger.
Emery started the tour by handing Finch two reports compiled by the National Institute of Corrections. The NIC recommended the county consider a mental health unit to improve conditions.
A County Board decision earlier this week, to move forward with a partnership with Chestnut Health Systems for a new family health clinic with expanded mental health service, is a first step in addressing shortfalls in community mental health, said Emery.
"Today the county started the fix on the community side," he said.
Catherine Metzker of District 1 was seated in May. She also toured the facility.
"It's sad. If you want a place for punishment, it's a place for that but it's not a place for people who need help," she said.
Finch and Metzker are looking forward to hearing from consultants who are looking at ways to address the housing inadequacies. They are scheduled to be in McLean County in early September.
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