Marion County, IN
Marion County Sheriff’s Office & Marion County Government
INdiana
Urban | Population: 968,460In Indianapolis, Indiana’s largest and most populous county, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office is tackling the opioid epidemic with a groundbreaking jail-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program. Supported by a 2021 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) grant, this initiative has transformed the Marion County Adult Detention Center into a hub of hope and recovery for individuals grappling with substance use disorders.
Housing an average daily population of 2,300 to 2,400 individuals, the program seeks to address urgent treatment needs while fostering pathways to rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and facilitating successful reintegration into the community. By prioritizing evidence-based care and continuity of support post-release, this initiative is not only transforming lives but also strengthening public safety and community resilience.
Elements of Success
Comprehensive Screening and Assessment
All individuals are screened for opioid use disorder upon arrival, ensuring that individuals in need of treatment are identified, referred, and treated quickly.
Discharge Planning and Continuity of Care
Program staff prioritize connecting individuals to health insurance and community-based MAT services before release to ensure continuity of care.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
284
individuals received mat between 2021 and 2025
Comprehensive MAT is offered, using medications such as buprenorphine and naltrexone. Patients who start MAT treatment are seen daily or weekly until their medication dosage is stable. In January 2025, the facility began administering Sublocade injections to approximately 25% of the existing MAT patient population. Each MAT participant meets with a Medicaid Enrollment Specialist and a Behavioral Manager to assess post-release needs and develop a personalized reentry plan. Wellpath Discharge Planners coordinate with local providers to ensure seamless transitions to post-release treatment and support.
Growth of the MAT Program Over Time
Prior to 2019, MAT services at the Marion County Adult Detention Center were minimal, restricted to methadone treatment for pregnant women who had to travel daily to external facilities. Extended-release naltrexone was only available for select individuals under community supervision who violated their terms due to opioid use. Recognizing the need for expanded services, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office joined Building Bridges—a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)-supported planning initiative aimed at helping jails establish or enhance MAT programs.
This pivotal moment led to the launch of a comprehensive MAT program in June 2021, initially serving 50 individuals. By fall 2021, thanks to their first COSSUP grant, the program doubled its capacity to accommodate 100 patients.
100
patient capacity for treatment
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is committed to expanding its MAT program further. Currently housed in a dedicated unit with 64 beds for men—where medication dosing and group therapy sessions occur—the team aspires to establish a similar therapeutic unit for women in the future. Plans are also underway to increase Sublocade usage while implementing structured selection criteria for patients who would benefit most from injectable MAT options.
“In 2022, we enrolled a patient who had never received this type of treatment before. Struggling with severe heroin addiction and cycling through jails and prisons without support, he was able to access MAT along with discharge planning, therapy, case management, and medication. This comprehensive approach enabled him to enter rehab and remain on probation instead of returning to prison. Today, he has maintained his sobriety and stayed out of the criminal justice system.”
—discharge planner, marion county sheriff’s office
This project was enabled by a Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) grant through the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). BJA sponsors the provision of technical assistance to help communities effectively implement their project activities. The combination of grant funding and technical assistance support makes communities safer, reduces the burden on the criminal justice system, allows limited resources to focus on combating violent crime, decreases recidivism, and reduces the risk of overdose.
Key 2024 COSSUP Initiatives
comprehensive screening
Screen all people being arrested for opioid use disorder.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Provide medication for opioid disorders to incarcerated people.
Provide individual and group counseling sessions using evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.
comprehensive reentry planning
Assign each participant a Discharge Planner to coordinate post-release care, connect participants to community-based MAT providers, reinstate insurance benefits, and ensure warm handoffs for continuity of care.
Collaborate with local providers to sustain treatment post-release and reduce recidivism through comprehensive reentry planning.
Anticipated Benefits of Project
-
This project aims to reduce overdose fatalities through access to timely and effective treatment, including medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD).
-
This project aims to increase public safety through seamlessly transitioning individuals from treatment in custody to community-based treatment.
Collaborative Partners
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Marion County Community Corrections
Marion County Adult Correction Center
Marion Superior Court Drug Treatment and Re-Entry Courts
Marion Superior Court Probation Department
Wellpath
Project Director
Emily Groff, Grant Coordinator
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
emily.groff@indy.gov
317-327-1504
This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA23GK02258COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.