At any given time, an average of 20 people are in custody in the Routt County Detention Center, with about five times more men than women.

Many of those detainees or inmates are dealing with mental health conditions or substance abuse issues, officials say. However, about 30-40% of those in custody chose to take advantage of the robust Jail Based Behavioral Services, according to Sgt. Joe Boyle, JBBS project manager.

“For the past couple of years, we’ve been really building this program up and trying to offer more services,” said Boyle, 36. “I’m confident the work we are doing is making a positive change.”

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Those behavioral health services started to expand around 2017 assisted by funding through the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration. Currently, the incarcerated population can take advantage of options such as substance abuse disorder group therapy, Bible study, meditation class or virtual visit with a CareMind Health therapist. Inmates have access to Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Fatherhood Program of Routt County and GED and college classes through a secure laptop connection to Colorado Mountain College.

“A lot of the mental health conditions we see are also related to the individual’s alcohol or substance use or the use or withdrawal of alcohol or drugs making their condition worse.”

The jail contracts with a nurse practitioner for 30 hours a week and on-call emergencies. Mind Springs Health can provide emergency crises response, and the jail contracts with Craig Thornhill, a licensed addiction counselor in Steamboat Springs. Front Range Clinic is the provider for Medication Assisted Treatment, or MAT, to fight addiction.

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Upon entry into the detention center, individuals are screened for substance use disorder, mental health issues and suicide risk using four different assessments. Based on how inmates score on the assessments, Boyle said they could qualify for substance abuse group therapy or medication assisted treatment.

The sergeant explained the jail has seen people with mental health conditions — most commonly depression, anxiety and substance use disorder — but also some cases of bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, dementia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and mood and other psychotic disorders.

“A lot of the mental health conditions we see are also related to the individual’s alcohol or substance use or withdrawal of alcohol or drugs making their condition worse,” Boyle said.

He started working in the jail in 2009 after serving in the Army National Guard, and believes the inmates in the detention center represent a reflection of the overall community.

“If something is happening in our jails, it’s happening in our community,” Boyle said. “We all have our issues and flaws. We are all human, and we are all part of this community.”

When Boyle was promoted to jail lieutenant in 2017, his main focus was to build up and improve the jail’s mental health system. He accepted a step-down in rank to sergeant so that the administration would allow him to run the JBBS program.

Becky Huckaby, a JBBS program manager for the state’s Behavioral Health Administration, said almost all county jails have a behavioral health program, but pointed out that Routt’s program is robust for the size of jail.

“He (Boyle) actually took it upon himself to work really hard for JBBS and offer more services to the folks in his jail,” Huckaby said. “They’re definitely a model program, especially for the size of jail. They are offering some really great services for the folks in their community.

“Sgt. Boyle is doing a really fantastic job and really has his community in mind and really tries to do the right thing for his community.”

The average length of stay in the Routt County Detention Center is 30 to 90 days. Sometimes as an inmate is being released, Boyle takes down a list of their sizes and immediate needs, and goes on a shopping trip to Walmart or coordinates with LiftUp for supplies for people who need basics such as clean clothes, boots, a sleeping bag and tent. Boyle may purchase a simple pre-paid phone so that those released can connect with community services.

He enjoys referring people to connections with everything from a case manager at The Health Partnership to sober living homes in the valley, such as Oxford House that has three homes in Craig, or Travis House and Love Life in Steamboat. Boyle said community support programs help reduce recidivism, and the success stories of former inmates are reaffirming.

One of the most difficult parts of his job, according to Boyle, is when inmates decline to take part in any of the broad health support services.

“Mental health resources and psychiatric hospitals are limited, so as a community it’s on us to do what we can to help these individuals be productive members of society,” Boyle said. “Jail is a place where people suffering from mental health issues don’t know how to fit into society and society doesn’t know how to help.

“I don’t care your background — I want to help you all the same.”