Boone County has recently organized the Boone County Suicide and Overdose Fatality Review Team and Boone County Coroner Justin Sparks explained the team’s purpose in detail. Why Suicide and Overdose Fatality Review? Even prior to the pandemic that began in 2020, death rates for suicide have continued to rise both …
Read More »Boone County Shines a Light on the Road to Recovery and Rehabilitation: BCSO’s Capt. Tim Turner
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office’s (BCSO) primary focus remains on the rehabilitation of its inmates or “clients” and reducing the recidivism rate, albeit the county jail’s current recidivism rate is at 17%—down from 44%. BSCO attributes the success of its behavioral health and rehabilitation programs, such as the Medication-Assisted Treatment …
Read More »Mental Health America of Boone County: A Healthy Mind Leads to a Healthy Life
Mental Health America of Boone County (MHABC) is a 501(c)(3) organization and a chapter of Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association), the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With approximately 300 affiliates nationwide, MHABC represents a growing movement of Americans who …
Read More »Boone County Corrections Department on Rising to the Challenges
Michael Nance, executive director of the county’s community corrections department, has been with the department since 2008 and has been its executive director for five years. Nance shared his observations on the status of the county’s home detention, pretrial team, work release, and substance abuse programs amid the growing population. …
Read More »Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood Echoes the Need for a County Justice Center
Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood shared his thoughts on the justice center and explained how it would benefit his office as well as all related county governmental departments. The prosecutor’s office currently houses 30 members of Eastwood’s staff, and they are officially out of space. Additionally, the prosecutors’ caseloads have …
Read More »How a Justice Center in Boone County Will Help the Coroner’s Office
As Boone County Coroner Justin Sparks explained, the role and duties of a coroner consist of a great deal more than writing death certificates—the coroner is responsible for many services that impact the entire county. And now that the [county] population is on an upward trajectory, Sparks is sharing what …
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