Friends,

Last week I was invited by the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office to visit the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. There I was joined by local leaders and members of the US House Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus to learn more about the different programs we have that focus on inmate reform and recovery.

We want to ensure that when someone enters our criminal justice system, they have everything they need to turn their life around so that when they do go out, they will never come back. One of the programs that was highlighted during my visit was the STAR Program. Launched by Sheriff Stacey Kincaid, the Striving to Achieve Recovery (STAR) program is a voluntary program that is led by certified peer specialists with support from jail-based medical and behavioral health professionals. This program helps inmates with histories of drug-involved arrests and chronic substance use. Inmates live together in a housing unit that serves as a therapeutic community where they assume responsibility not only for their own recovery, but also for the recovery of their peers, working collectively to hold each other accountable.

Ensuring that inmates who are leaving our custody and reentering society have the necessary resources and support they need doesn't just positively impact their individual lives, it also helps reduce crimes as a whole within our community. I am proud of the work that is being done by our Sheriff’s Office. Our programs serve as a shining example of how other localities can help inmates reform successfully.