Sitting in their calm, low-lit office, Julie Mamo and Lory Villumsen work through thousands of pages of documents as they balance a schedule few would envy. “We’re mitigating barriers to success upon release,” Julie says as she tucks away another completed form. 

Julie and Lory are the dynamic duo of Transitions Coordinators who make up the Transitions Team within the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. The Transitions Team was created in 2019 to reduce recidivism, improve post-release outcomes, and bridge the gap between care received in the Mesa County Detention Facility and care received in the community for mental and physical health needs. So far, it’s been a huge success.

The simple explanation is that as inmates near their release date, they can contact the Transitions Team for assistance planning their reentry into the community. The Transitions Team can arrange for or obtain necessary identification documents, travel out of the community, social and medical model treatment, sober housing, access to healthcare, and more to ensure success upon release.

The more complex explanation is that in 2023, 601 inmates reached out to the Transitions Team to plan for their reentry into the community. When inmates submit their worksheet expressing interest for Transitions services, they automatically receive an initial screening, legal review, and personal interview. This process determines what level of support the inmate may require upon release. In 2023, 89 inmates were eligible for the highest level of support, known as the Extended Services Program, while 512 were eligible for lower-complexity post-release support.

The Transitions Team works closely with community resources and programs. This ensures that those not eligible for the Extended Services receive the support they need from outside agencies. Before release, the Transitions Team can provide the individual with referrals to or information for support services such as nutrition programs, temporary housing, or family support services.

The Transitions Team can also refer individuals to the Multi-Agency Collaborative (MAC), an initiative composed of law enforcement, local hospitals, and service providers that addresses the needs of those who frequent jails, homeless shelters, emergency services, and crisis services. The MAC has four case management providers who can connect clients with broader community services. 

Let’s examine what the Transitions Team—aka Julie and Lory—tackles on a daily basis to ensure inmates have the best chance of success upon release.

Medication and Health Services

While in the Mesa County Detention Facility, inmates receive round-the-clock healthcare. This includes medication management, dental and check-ups. When it comes time for release, inmates can request that the medical team within the Mesa County Detention Facility call in a 30 day prescription of their current medications to a pharmacy of their choosing. 

Many, but not all, inmates rely on Medicare and Medicaid for their healthcare insurance needs. However, these programs are paused when an individual is incarcerated. When an inmate nears their release date - or is given a definitive release date - they can reach out to the Transitions Team to complete paperwork to reinstate their Medicare or Medicaid healthcare upon release.

Receiving or continuing healthcare services doesn’t just come from insurance. The Transitions Team has contacts and partnerships with programs nationwide to help inmates continue their care once released. These programs include substance abuse treatment programs, co-occurring programs, character-building programs, and more. When the inmate is released, the Transitions Team arranges transportation to the facility or program where the inmate will participate.

Documentation and Reentry Support

Do you know where your birth certificate is? What about your social security card? When does your license expire? Those who are incarcerated may lose access to these items or may not have ever had them to start with. Julie and Lory work with inmates to locate and request birth certificates from across the country, order social security cards, and host regular DMV2GO events, which allow inmates to receive a Colorado State ID or, if they qualify, a Driver’s License. These documents are essential for most day-to-day functions, such as securing housing, setting up a bank account, applying for jobs, and applying for government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, subsidized housing assistance, and the Supplemental Nutrition Program. 

When an individual is released, they may have little support in the area to get back on their feet. Julie and Lory are determined to ensure they are successful. There are a few ways they accomplish this:

• Transportation Assistance: When an individual is not from the Grand Valley area or has support or family in another location, the Transitions Team provides them with a bus or Amtrak ticket to travel to a destination where they will be more successful.

• Career Support: If an individual has a career or interviews lined up upon release, Julie and Lori have a few different avenues to support their career success. Of note, the Transitions Team can provide Grand Valley Transportation (GVT) bus passes to individuals who need transportation assistance to reach their jobs or interviews.

• Housing: Lory and Julie understand how important it is to find stable housing, especially sober living. The Transitions Team can help individuals identify and apply for sober living housing that best suits their needs and encourage success upon release.

Outcomes

So, why does having a Transitions Team matter? The data shows that support truly makes a difference. Here’s a breakdown of the data of the 89 individuals who participated in the Extended Services Program in 2023.

Destination upon participant’s release:

• Traveled home or to another opportunity elsewhere: 7

• Entered a Sober Living Community with Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Assistance: 21

• Entered a Substance Use or Co-Occurring Treatment Program: 53

• Entered a Character-Building Program (2+ Year program): 4

• Moved to Permanent Placement (Assisted Living or a Host Home): 4

Of those who worked with the Transitions Team who have not had further contact with Law Enforcement:

• Traveled home: 4 (57%)

• Sober Living: 10 (48%)

• Substance Use Treatment: 29 (55%)

• Character Building Program: 4 (100%)

• Permanent Placement: 4 (100%)

At the time of this report in March 2024, of the participants who worked with the Transitions Team:

• 23 participants remained out of custody for at least one full year, and 10 had no further contact with Law Enforcement of local warrants.

• 20 participants remained out of custody for at least nine months, and 10 had no further contact with Law Enforcement of local warrants.

• 23 participants remained out of custody for at least six months, and 11 had no further contact with Law Enforcement of local warrants.

• 21 participants remained out of custody for at least three months, and 15 had no further contact with Law Enforcement or local warrants.

• 2 participants remained out of custody for less than three months, and 2 had no further contact with Law Enforcement of local warrants.

As Transitions Coordinators Lory and Julie say, “Ultimately, these are our neighbors and family members, and so we want to see them on the outside in the best version of themselves with their families and living a good life.” Their work is extremely important, and the outcomes speak for themselves. If you have a friend or loved one in the Mesa County Detention Facility who may benefit from working with the Transitions Team, tell them they can contact Julie or Lory through a Kite. Working with Julie and Lory may just change the trajectory of their life.