IT’S ABOUT TIME –
July 8, 2023 – The lesson on this day is on “changing your way of thinking.” For Frances Tufts, one of the addiction counselors who leads the new “Next Steps” program for women at J. Reuben Long, this is a lesson she frequently tries to hit home.
Some of the women in the classroom had never been clean before, according to Tufts. One participant spoke up during the class and said she had been previously clean for two years. For the past 15 years, the “Next Steps” addiction recovery class has only been available to male inmates after sentencing as part of a jail diversion program.
Jail officials have wanted to bring the same resources to female inmates for a long time, but couldn’t due to staffing issues and funding. Grant funding approved in December ultimately allowed the jail to introduce the “Next Steps” program to pretrial female inmates.
