Official Press Release- GCSO
For Immediate Release
Max Benbassat | Communications Specialist
(336) 382-6790 | mbenbassat@guilfordcountync.gov
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is asking to expand and enhance the Guilford County Reentry Program without using tax dollars.
Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers, in his annual budget request, has requested to utilize the revenues generated by inmates to fund the Reentry Program. The detention centers provide commissary products and offer telephone privileges. The inmates pay for these products and services with their own funds. The Sheriff is requesting the revenues to be used to pay for programs, training, and associated costs to assist the inmates upon their release-through the existing Reentry Program.
Guilford County is currently working with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety as one of the State’s Reentry Programs. Reentry Councils operate in 19 of the State’s 100 counties. Each year, more than 22,000 people are released from North Carolina prisons. In Guilford County alone, approximately 17,000 are released from the two jails. Thousands of men and women transition from behind bars back into the community. What happens during this transition can be a determining factor in their recidivism.
The Guilford County Reentry program is currently assisting approximately 200 justice served individuals. With dedicated caseworkers, participants are referred to community services including housing, substance abuse treatment and employment services. Through Sheriff Roger’s innovative plan to let the inmate’s own purchases sustain this program-it will not be another program funded with tax dollars.
During the first six months in office, Sheriff Rogers demonstrated his commitment in analyzing effectiveness of internal departmental programs to ensure fiscal responsibility. Further, Sheriff Rogers’ recommendations and project analysis have resulted in significant cost savings. The previous estimate for the construction of the Sheriff’s Office new administration building was $17 million dollars. The new plans approved by the Sheriff’s Office and by the Board of County Commissioners reduced that to $12 million. This resulted in a savings of $5 million dollars to Guilford County taxpayers.
In addition, Sheriff Rogers elimination of the unaccredited DNA Program which, to date, has cost the taxpayers more than half a million dollars (approximately $645,000) in the 33 months of its operation, will also reduce budget costs. This money was allocated from the taxpayers of Guilford County through the Sheriff’s Office budget while still paying additional cost to send samples to private labs.
Each year, departments are asked to find ways to reduce cost without reducing services. This request is challenging to any department with rising economic costs and departmental needs. That’s why we are pleased to announce the expansion of the reentry program will save tax dollars, increase public safety, and most important, it will positively transform lives-which should be the goal of any law enforcement agency.
Guilford County Sheriff’s Office | Office of Sheriff Danny H. Rogers
400 W. Washington Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
###
