St. Louis County, MN
St. Louis County Government
minnesota
Urban & Rural | Population: 200,514St. Louis County, the largest county by landmass east of the Mississippi River, faces unique challenges in reentry coordination due to its vast geographic area. For the St. Louis County Jail, this often means releasing individuals who reside in remote northern towns over 100 miles away from the Duluth-based facility. This geographical complexity amplifies the difficulties in ensuring seamless reentry services.
A Bold Vision for Change
At the start of its 2022 COSSUP grant project, St. Louis County grappled with fragmented systems, increasing mental health and co-occurring needs among incarcerated individuals, and significant barriers to rural service access during reentry. Many individuals were detained for short periods, leading to missed connections with crucial services. Project Director BreAnn Graber emphasized the urgency of early intervention, stating, “The county recognized a need to get people into services right as they came through our doors.” This realization drove the jail to design an entirely new system for identifying mental health and substance use disorders upon intake.
The initiative also sought to strengthen communication between jails, courts, and probation offices to ensure continuity of care and efficient resource utilization. Building a multidisciplinary team was pivotal to bridging these gaps and laying the foundation for success.
Innovative Staffing and Community Collaboration
110
individuals received peer support
between Oct 2022 and Dec 2024
St. Louis County adopted an unconventional approach by embedding its project coordinator within Recovery Alliance Duluth (RAD), a community-based organization. Jennifer Swanson, Executive Director of RAD, praised this decision: “I think it was really courageous of the Sheriff's Department and the county to have the program coordinator be someone who is not at all corrections or with the county.” Swanson described this move as “a big leap of faith” that ultimately fostered widespread community support.
The staffing strategy was equally intentional. Administrative Sergeant Jason Ringdahl and Probationary Officer Liaison Katelyn Sutton were integral to daily operations, with Jail Administrator Jessica Pete noting that she “wrote the grant with those two in mind.” Certified Peer Support Specialists also play a central role in providing post-release support, particularly for residents in northern regions where virtual services had previously been the norm. By hiring a Peer Support Specialist dedicated to rural areas, the program enhanced cultural competency and localized recovery efforts. Pete highlighted this addition, saying the specialist “can speak the language of the north.”
Streamlining Processes and Expanding Services
St. Louis County’s reentry program is built on streamlined processes and enhanced service delivery.
Post-Booking Referral System
A flagging system identifies behavioral health needs at intake.
Expanded Peer Recovery and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Certified Peer Recovery Specialists offer one-on-one support and weekly All-Recovery Meetings for women. Between October 2022 and December 2024, 110 individuals received peer support.
Cross-System Coordination
Partnerships with mental health providers, Duluth’s behavioral health unit, and other community organizations ensure seamless reentry.
Improved Rural Service Access
A new transportation route facilitates travel to northern areas upon release. Additionally, a designated Peer Support Specialist serves rural residents.
Competency Pre-Screening Process
To address rising requests for competency assessments, pre-screening was introduced in 2023. Nearly 350 pre-screens have been conducted, reducing wait times and ensuring timely referrals.
171
individuals were referred to mat
between 2023 and 2024…
581
formal ASSESSMENTS were conducted
National Recognition
The St. Louis County Jail, in partnership with Aspirus St. Luke’s, has earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care by demonstrating compliance with NCCHC’s nationally recognized standards of care for correctional health services in jails. Accreditation recognizes the commitment of staff at the Jail and Aspirus St. Luke’s to providing quality health services for the incarcerated population. To earn NCCHC accreditation, St Louis County Jail and Aspirus St. Luke’s underwent rigorous professional assessments in 2023 and 2024.
“We have a statutory obligation to provide health care to those incarcerated in our jail, and we are committed to doing so with innovation, excellence, and efficiency,” said Jail Administrator Jessica Pete. “I want to recognize the health care staff, custody staff, and leadership for their hard work and dedication.”
Navigating Complex Needs
As co-occurring disorders become increasingly prevalent among incarcerated populations, St. Louis County continues to adapt its strategies. With additional BJA grant funding secured for 2023, plans are underway to hire another staff member dedicated to coordinating jail programming.
Lessons Learned
St. Louis County Jail exemplifies how local systems can align with national priorities focused on reducing overdose fatalities, enhancing recovery pathways, and fostering sustainable solutions at every level of government coordination. St. Louis County’s success underscores how intentional partnerships and efficient workflows can overcome resource limitations. By prioritizing cross-sector collaboration and leveraging the expertise of dedicated personnel, the county has demonstrated an ability to respond effectively to evolving population needs.
Collaborative Partners
St. Louis County
St. Louis County Jail
Arrowhead Regional Corrections
Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Northeast Regional Corrections Center
Recovery Alliance Duluth
St. Luke's — Aspirus Health
Stratis Health
Project Director
BreAnn Graber, Deputy Director, Administration
St. Louis County
graberb@stlouiscountymn.gov
218-726-2457
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.