Menomonie – The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, Jail Division, through Dunn County Criminal Justice Collaborating Council (DCCJCC) was awarded $80,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) in September of 2024 with an additional $100,000 awarded in September 2025.

This grant is aimed at developing and implementing a jail-based program for individuals with substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders who are incarcerated in the Dunn County Jail.

Dunn County is one of only three counties in Wisconsin awarded this state grant. This grant is being used to support the implementation of a jail-based program that adheres to the federal Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) objectives designed to break the cycle of drug addiction and violence by reducing the demand for, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. Funds are also being used for recovery support and post-release aftercare services for program participants.

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors approved the use of local opioid settlement funds for the required grant match of 25% that partially funds the staff position delivering these services. The use of local opioid settlement funds must be used for opioid remediation to address the polysubstance crisis communities are facing in Wisconsin and across the country.

The Dunn County Jail’s Therapeutic Community (TC) program started in February of 2025. The TC is a stand-alone program in the jail setting; participants are focused on their substance use recovery through classes, groups and by actively participating in peer-based community activities. They also meet weekly with the Substance Use Counselor to discuss release needs and with a peer mentor to discuss continued support needs for their reentry.

The overall goal of the TC program is to provide a safe community that encourages the participants to develop and utilize skills for their reentry into the community. This includes continuation of recovery after release, continuing self-help activities, continuing medication for addiction treatment, and reducing recidivism.

For more information contact Sheli Jo Metzger, Substance Use Counselor, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office – Jail Division at 715-231-2980 or [email protected]

Source: News Release