The Monroe County Jail will be getting a nurse that will provide regular psychiatric service to inmates.
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners approved an annual contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare Wednesday. The budget was increased from around $732,000 last year to just over $801,000.
That’s an increase of nearly $5,800 per month and includes funding for the psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain says once the spending plan is approved, they'll have a mental health professional ready to start. He says they are just waiting for the Monroe County Council to approve how the funds are spent.
“We have found a professional that is anxious to provide that service,” Swain says.
The renewed contract includes over $40,000 for medications. Swain says the jail’s mental health therapist and the jail commander both approached him with the need for a mental health professional that could prescribe medications to inmates when needed.
The next County Council meeting is scheduled for early March.
