MUNCIE, Ind. — The Mental Health of America recognizes the negative impact the criminal justice system has on incarcerated individuals and their families. On July 1, 2022, a recovery program was created to support incarcerated individuals through individual and peer support, and with their families to help mitigate the psychological effects of reincarceration.
The Delaware Integrated Reentry and Correctional Support program (IRACS) is a re-entry program whose mission is to help inmates enter into society effectively instead of reoffending. This year marks the program’s third year of running because of the success it has had. IRACS offers a variety of support to all who go through the program.
Kim Creager, the assistant supervisor and team lead judicial peer, helps oversee all of the recovery programs. The program works alongside the Delaware Correctional System with many sources.
“We have forensic peers who go out and meet with people in the jail and we have navigation peers who work with the jail release program in Delaware County Community Corrections to get people out on treatment, and people in reentry who help everyone reenter into society,” Creager stated.
Over the years, IRACS has consistently shown proof that the program is working. Since July 1st, 2022, the program has had a total amount of 2,910 participants, but currently there are 274 active participants. The program’s participants' recidivism rate is 16.1% which is less than the Indiana Statewide rate of 38.2%. The success rate proves that there is a light at the end of the tunnel through times of adversity.
“There’s a light that comes in people’s eyes when they begin to accomplish things and feel proud of themselves,” Creager said. “You see the self-worth coming back”.
In conjunction with the IRACS program, the Peer Addiction Support Team Recovery Program, not only works with the incarcerated, but the entire community to provide support and help recover. The program’s mission is to give hope and life back into the community by removing barriers that prevent one from recovery.
Jerry Walter, the Peer Support Mentor in P.A.S.T, can see firsthand the impact the program has on the community.
“We call it peer-support, peer to peer, because we have a similar experience and we just kind of use, not only our professional sense but our personal experience to walk alongside them and really kind of coach, provide resources, and to be their cheerleader,” Walter said.
Both programs work together to not only lower the re-offend rate in Delaware County but also offer community support to all. To learn more about their programs, visit their websites.
Contact Amelia Winter with comments at amelia.winter@bsu.edu.
