SALEM (WSLS) - The Western Virginia Regional Jail is starting a program to help people faced with substance abuse and mental health issues.
The jail is working with Blue Ridge Behavioral Health on the Resident Substance Treatment program.
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Inmates who have three to six months left to serve are selected based on a screening process and 18 men and 18 women are then chosen.
Major Amanda Tuck says this program has been a hope for them ever since the jail opened a few years ago.
"This has been the idea we've had since we were in a trailer and this was dirt," says Major Tuck. "This was a project of mine as a graduate student. I've worked with female offenders, and it's always been something that I've wanted to address."
The program will last 12 to 16 weeks and inmates will go through counseling, required to have jobs in their housing units, and follow rules like no street language.
The hope is that through this program it'll help stop people from re-offending.
"It's a tough spots for folks," says Earl Edwards, Blue Ridge Behavioral Health. "They have have been incarcerated for a period of time separated from their families and coming back is a little more difficult.
The inmates selected for the program are expected to move in their housing units in a few weeks.Â