Jail Programs

JET Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide a dignified, nourishing environment intent on helping incarcerated individuals gain knowledge, education, awareness, and skills to grow independently and collectively. The JET program sets the goal of preparing men and women to re-enter the community safely, as productive members of society.

Located within the jail, our program offers case management and a wide variety of classes. We cater our focus on criminogenic risk factors by addressing antisocial behaviors and personality patterns, mental health issues, substance abuse history, risky associates, family/marital dynamics, school/work, and leisure and recreation. Our program is always looking for cutting edge evidence-based techniques to address these factors, and for this reason many of our offerings integrate trauma informed and mindfulness-based modalities.

As part of the JET program, JET participants are offered re-entry/ transition services. JET staff and the client work to build an individualized plan for transitioning back into the community. The individual is connected to community-based services aimed to increase success in the community and lower recidivism. JET staff continue to meet with clients once released.

JET Program Services:

This is a list of some classes and therapeutic groups that may be offered at the Boulder County Jail:

• High School Equivalency/GED
• GED – Spanish Language Class
• Thinking Errors
• Socialization
• 7 Habits
• Maintaining Positive Change
• Meditation
• Handling Difficult Emotions
• ESL/SSL
• Budgeting
• Mindfulness of Addictions
• Self-Control/ Impulse Control
• Parenting Classes
• Healthy Relationships
• Money Management
• AA and NA
• Learning from Trauma
• Creative Writing
• Employment Skills
• Victim Impact
• Addictions and Substances
• Yoga
• Seeking Safety
• DBT

JBBS Mission

The Jail-Based Behavioral Services (JBBS) program aims to improve behavioral health outcomes and reduce recidivism for individuals with behavioral health and substance use disorders who are incarcerated in Colorado jails by providing appropriate behavioral health services and supporting the continuity of care after release. Rapid identification of behavioral health needs through universal screening allows staff to provide timely and effective jail-based services, as well as effective transition planning to support each JBBS clients’ successful return to the community. These interventions can help to improve individual health outcomes, reduce the frequency of critical incidents, reduce recidivism, increase post-release follow up with treatment services, and improve community safety.

A core component of JBBS is the provision of effective and timely behavioral health services. Jail-based services and treatment are tailored individually to each client. JBBS treatment supports clients with mental health and substance use concerns through strengthening motivation, problem solving, skill building, and coping skills.

While in jail, individuals may receive any of the following services as a JBBS client:

• Individual Therapy.
• Group Therapy.
• Case Management
• Psychoeducation, including materials and groups.

Case management services may include assistance or referrals for assistance with health insurance, housing, vocational needs, employment acquisition, meeting legal obligations, and transportation. Case management in jail settings typically also incorporates coordination of treatment, social services, and social supports that address prior and current involvement with the justice system and reduce the likelihood of recidivism.

JBBS Program Services:

Therapeutic groups and/or classes offered at the Boulder County Jail:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Mind source (TBI Group, A.H.E.A.D. Curriculum)
• Helping Men Recover
• Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention
• Yoga
• Seeking Safety
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
• Smart Recovery

Provided to others, as requested and needed.

• Assistance provided by the Corrections Library Program Coordinator
• Number of users annually is approximately seventy-two (72)

JBBS Pre-Sentence Re-Entry Coordinator (PSRE) links qualifying individuals who are in custody for less than 45 days to community based behavioral health supports and services. PSRE assists and supports clients with medical, therapy, treatment, food, clothing, public assistance (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF), educational programs (such as GED), and housing. PSRE’s goal is to ensure a wraparound service to clients based on the specific needs of the individual to reduce the risk of the individual returning into the justice system.

The Boulder County Jail offers many volunteer groups and programs.

Programs include:

Substance Abuse programs

Substance Abuse programs set goals, objectives, and components of treatment:

• Alcoholics Anonymous – the affirmative 12 step program with sponsorship and group support
• Narcotics Anonymous – another supportive group for narcotics addiction
• Educational Classes listed under Education Programs

Yoga and Meditation

Yoga is provided for inmate well being

• Prison Dharma Network – a meditation class provided under the JET umbrella
• Transitional Yoga Program and Mindfulness for stress reduction training.

Math Circle

• A collaborative group lead by graduates of Colorado School of Mines and CU to bring mathematics to the jail population.

Boulder County Jail provides recreation time for inmates in conjunction with the jail programs.

Active Recreation

• Provide inmates with recreational opportunities and equipment, for one-hour, a minimum of every other day, of physical exercise in the gymnasium or outside in the courtyard, when weather permits.

Passive Recreation

• Leisure time activities outside their assigned rooms, including television, board games, cards, arts and access to phones (if inmates have available funds on their phone account).
• Newspapers, books, magazines, etc., provided.

Community Workers

• Sentenced
• Less than two hundred seventy (270) days remaining on sentence.
• No holds or pending charges.
• Compensation – earned good-time up to ten (10) days per month.
• Jobs may be inside or outside of the Boulder County Jail
• Housed in a less restrictive area with work release inmates, although not in the same dorms

Inmates Workers

• Sentenced or non-sentenced (preference given to county sentenced)
• Compensation – earned good-time, if sentenced
• All jobs are inside the jail.
• Additional privileges over other inmates
• Housed in a less restrictive area in a dorm setting

COAP Mission Statement

The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP) aims to reduce opioid abuse and the number of overdose fatalities and decrease further criminal-justice system involvement among those with opioid use disorder and aims to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated strategy that includes prevention, education, and effective responses to those affected by opiate use.

COAP Services

• Provided as needed for pro se inmates.
• Located within the jail, our program offers case management, group, and individual therapy. Services are assessment-based, and trauma informed to meet individual client need. COAP provides a holistic approach to individualized treatment considering the individual and their race, gender, trauma history, culture, sexual orientation, religion and spirituality.
• Individualized treatment plan goals and sobriety maintenance planning.
• Individual Therapy sessions
• Group Therapy sessions:
• • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Sobriety Maintenance skills
  • Other volunteer-based classes
• Community resource presentations
• Case management support
• Re-entry case planning and support in the community

The Boulder County Jail supports the right of our inmate population to practice the religion of their choice. The Jail Chaplain supports inmates in the practice of their faith by providing religious texts, leading group discussions, coordinating support from local faith communities, and providing one to one pastoral care to inmates who request support.

The Chaplain can be contacted at 303-441-4667 or SheriffJailChaplins@bouldercounty.gov

Chaplain’s Programs Available

Chaplain’s Office

Offers a variety of services, providing religious texts, leading group discussions, coordinating support from local faith communities, and providing one to one pastoral care to inmates who request support. In 2024 the Jail Chaplain responded to approximately 1,800 Inmate Request Forms (Kites), provided approximately 1,700 religious books or texts, led 100 group discussions, and met with 576 inmates one to one. All religious texts and materials are donated by faith communities.

Volunteer Led Programs

Volunteers from local faith communities lead 11 religious programs each week, including Catholic mass, Bible studies, and Islamic Studies.

The Behavioral Health Assistance Program (BHAP) is a voluntary re-entry program run by Boulder County Community Justice Services in partnership with Clinica Family Health & Wellness. It supports individuals in jail as they prepare for release and continues to assist them for up to one year after re-entry.

BHAP begins by assessing participants’ mental health and substance use needs. While in jail, participants receive individual and group therapy to better understand the behaviors that led to their justice involvement and to develop healthier coping skills.

The program also offers peer support from staff with lived experience in substance use and the justice system, providing coaching and guidance. BHAP case managers start working with participants in jail to create a re-entry plan and continue support after release through intensive case management.

Post-release, BHAP helps participants build stability by connecting them to services that address social determinants of health, such as housing, employment, healthcare, and community support.

The goal of BHAP is to promote recovery and long-term stability by addressing both behavioral health needs and the broader factors that impact successful reintegration into the community.

The JMAT, Jail Medicated Assisted Treatment program, seeks to provide effective medical assessment, withdrawal management, induction to and continuation of MAT medications, therapeutic intervention and connection to re-entry assistance. The JMAT program partners with Community Justice Services (CJS) to provide collaborative therapeutic interventions and reentry support. Through a strong partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Harm Reduction team, we provide NARCAN distribution and training, fentanyl and xylazine testing supplies, as well as connection to additional community services.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s office serves all of Boulder County but will collaborate continuation of care for our patients as necessary with other law enforcement agencies, community programs, supervising officers, as well as medical and mental health facilities.

Boulder County Jail provides inmates the opportunity to pursue reading for both education and recreation, as well as access to legal materials.

General Library

• Once a week, library service is provided to each module either by library cart, or visit. This is dependent on where they are housed.
• Library materials are mainly donation with some purchased items.
  • Books
  • Magazines
  • Activity packets
  • Coloring pages
• Book Clubs
• Managed by Jail Librarian

Law Library

• Provides access to legal materials, which allows inmates a chance to research as part of their case review.
• As needed for pro se inmates.
• As requested for all other inmates
• Research assistance is provided by the Jail Librarian

• The Boulder County Jail (BCJ) Transitional Housing Program provides housing case management and financial support to eligible BCJ inmates who are participating in jail re-entry programs and have self-identified as homeless. The goal of the program is to reduce recidivism among program participants by prioritizing individualized housing needs as part of a reentry plan, securing appropriate housing, and implementing housing search strategy, education, and resources to increase the likelihood of stability post-incarceration.
• Providing housing supports for individuals exiting custody disrupts the revolving door between homelessness and incarceration, increases opportunities for prosocial behavior, and reduces the likelihood of recidivism. Clients participating in jail-based programs routinely report that lack of ability to attain stable housing is their biggest barrier to staying out of custody.
• The housing search begins when an individual is in custody and is already working with a reentry case manager. The program works collaboratively with local organizations, nonprofits, courts, and government partners to provide continuity of services for an individual upon entering and exiting custody. The program also coordinates with landlords, homeless service providers, and program managers to explore options for housing post-release. A wide range of housing options are considered, including independent housing, sober living, residential treatment, assisted living, other transitional housing programs, vouchers, and cohousing with friends or family. A significant part of the housing search also focuses on client education in acquiring and maintaining housing, such as: applying for a unit and answering questions about prior justice involvement; adhering to a lease; avoiding eviction; and applying for local housing resources.

Alcoholics Anonymous

A worldwide fellowship of men and women who help each other to stay sober. They offer the same help to anyone who has a drinking problem and wants to do something about it. Volunteers come into the jail three times per week to offer AA services to all inmates. Separate groups are held for men, women, and residents of the Work Release area. Each group meets once per week. Approximately 350-375 inmates participate in the weekly meetings for varying amounts of time on an annual basis.

Jail Substance Abuse Intervention Program (Phoenix Project)

1. Goals
   • Improve quality of life, personal productivity, reduce substance abuse and victimization by enrollment in treatment programs and to provide case management services for inmate’s families and significant others.
   • Reduce jail overcrowding and jail readmission of substance abusers by utilization of community treatment services and development of case management services for families of offenders and aftercare following release from jail
2. Objectives
   • Screen intakes within eight (8) hours to identify potential candidates
   • Evaluate candidates using the following criteria:
     • anticipated incarceration for more than thirty (30) days
     • substance abuse problems associated with criminal behavior
     • potential victim creator
     • amenable to treatment
   • Evaluate substance abuse and social history
   • If appropriate, refer to the counselor for a mental health status assessment
   • Establish contact with the family to assess their needs and to refer them to community agencies that can provide them with support and education
   • Enroll inmate into groups
   • Arrange follow-up appointments, treatment and monitoring for inmates following release and during reintegration into the community and refer to other treatment agencies
3. Components of treatment
   • Group therapy
   • Anger and stress management
   • Transitional phasing
   • Domestic violence and assault awareness
   • Cognitive restructuring
   • Participation – 425 inmates per year

Narcotics Anonymous

A non-profit fellowship of men and women who are recovering addicts. The program is designed to encourage complete abstinence from all drugs. The group meets once a week to inspire honest sharing and to listen to stories from facilitators about recovery. The programs is a twelve (12) step process to promote recovery. Meetings are designed to further free expression and have an atmosphere of empathy. Approximately sixty (60) inmates per year participate.

Social Security Cards

In partnership with the Social Security Administration, Boulder County Jail offers inmates the opportunity to apply for a Social Security card upon request. A Social Security card helps with reentry by providing access to housing, employment, education, and serves as valid identification. This service is free of charge to inmates.

DMV2GO

DMV2GO helps inmates obtain a Colorado State ID. Every other month (odd-numbered months), the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles visits Boulder County Jail to issue IDs to eligible individuals in custody. Those who do not qualify while incarcerated receive an ID voucher upon release. On average, 30 inmates receive IDs during each visit. This service is also provided at no cost to inmates and supports successful community reintegration.

Hustle 2.0

Hustle 2.0 is a nationally recognized, evidence-based rehabilitation program that uses trauma-informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to promote lasting change among incarcerated individuals. The program aims to create safer environments within correctional facilities.

Hustle 2.0 operates in over 800 facilities across 47 states and has graduated more than 14,000 participants at all custody levels.