BLOOMINGTON — Due to a lack of specialized staffing, the McLean County jail's inmate services department looked significantly different 10 years ago.
Jackie Mathias, director of inmate services and behavioral health at the jail, said the primary responsibilities of this department were to notify detainees of their court dates, report their bond amounts and explain whether there were housing options available once they were released.
But since then, the jail has hired two mental health counselors, a full-time substance abuse counselor, a re-entry case manager, a commissary manager and assistant, and a jail chaplain.
"So we've expanded (inmate services) to be more of an overall, holistic behavioral health approach to the program," Mathias said.
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To recognize these changes, staff last year renamed the inmate services program the Recovery, Education, Support and reEntry Team, or RESET.
One participant said he has been in and out of jail for most of his adult life, but after asking around about the RESET program, he realized there were detainees who really wanted to better themselves, and weren’t just waiting to regain their freedom.
He credited the RESET program for working with individuals to address the problem of addiction, which he described as the root of many issues.
“I’ve wanted to be better for the ones around me that I love, but the RESET program made me realize how I need to want it for myself first,” he said.
When an individual first arrives in the McLean County jail, they typically meet with Kara Powell, a re-entry case manager, to determine what resources they might need while in custody, and what resources they'll need once they’re released.
Should this not occur within the first 48 hours of detainment, an inmate’s needs are determined by a mental health and substance abuse assessment, which must be performed within the first 14 days of an inmate’s detention.
When it comes to addressing mental health issues, another participant said RESET offers calmer solutions to those experiencing a crisis.
Intern Makenna Williams, right, works with an inmate during a reading program on Monday, May 5, 2025, at the McLean County jail.
“For instance, if an inmate is having a mental health breakdown, one of the RESET ladies will drop everything to just come talk to the man or woman instead of having a bunch of officers intimidate the person and making the situation worse,” he said.
Additional courses include moral recognition therapy, which helps inmates guide themselves using their moral compass, and substance abuse counseling.
Mathias said there is also a recovery pod in the jail’s special-needs behavioral health unit, which is meant to support detainees with substance abuse problems.
One resident of the recovery pod said he spent the first couple weeks of his incarceration in one of the pods. Most of that time was spent praying for a miracle.
Although he was already focused on his recovery from behavioral health issues, he said his transfer to the recovery pod put him in a perfect environment to get better.
“All of a sudden, AA meetings were happening and more, which led to us all starting to change,” the detainee said. “It felt great to see like-minded people all around me.”
RESET participants can also be involved in growing herbs and vegetables in the resident garden.
Mathias said the garden has been in place for two years and has been very helpful for detainees suffering from mental health issues.
Individuals who may have had a poor visit or a bad day in court can be outside and tend to the garden. It also provides an opportunity for group sessions and counseling to be conducted outside.
“That’s one of those things that was helpful in ways we didn’t realize,” Mathias said.
Mathias said resources are available even for inmates with the most severe mental health issues. The jail recently had to make special accommodations for a detainee from Joliet who had severe mental illness.
“That was a very coordinated effort to put together a bag of commissary and clothes and things, and then get him a train ticket and coordinate with his family (upon his release),” Mathias said.
As inmates approach their release date, they are given a packet of materials to help them reintegrate into the community. Included in these packets are two doses of Narcan with instructions on how to administer it in the event of an opioid overdose; a map of downtown Bloomington, highlighting various resources; a map of Connect Transit bus routes; and other information.
The McLean County jail has partnerships with Oxford House, which offers self-run and self-supported homes for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. It also works with Chestnut Health Systems, the Center for Human Services and Carle BroMenn Medical Center for other behavioral health needs inmates may need upon their release.
“We try to set up as many appointments directly before they leave us,” Mathias said.
Abundant Thrift and area churches are also on hand to provide clothing, food and other commissary items to inmates as they are being released.
However, Mathias said housing continues to be the biggest challenge of the re-entry process.
Contact Drew Zimmerman at 309-820-3276. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DZimmermanLee
