I am confused, if this is true “but had otherwise not committed a crime” who decides they need to go anywhere? And if they have committed no crime and they are not under arrest they are free to walk out of the good sheriff’s self titled “bed and breakfast” anytime they want, correct? Why if these individuals have committed no crime are BPD and the sheriffs keystone cops hauling them to the hoosgow? Too use your figures ADA county pays 1/8th of the 2mil, but the county pays 100% of the cost of locking up individuals who by what you have said here, have committed no crime. Is the good sheriff trying to pad his census in an attempt to justify even more money from the county?

EDITOR NOTE–The coppers, courts, and most people don’t want drunks to go to jail. However, if someone is playing in traffic, passed out in a snowbank, etc. they are in danger of being killed or causing harm to others. The INTENT of the detox was to be an ALTERNATIVE to jail. It apparently hasn’t happened.

I understand meeting some criteria but for those whom seek help then this is crippling. It seemed the initial point was to assist.

Everyone with a problem doesn’t need to go to jail and once in jail then there is a bail bond associated plus $75 per day. Jail is not a means to help here. It doesn’t make sense but another money market?

A few years ago there was the same on helping those with Meth and families were to seek help by reporting this. How many turned their kids or families in and then charged with Felonies to seek help as well. Is this the same facility perhaps? Is this entrapment? Something is really wrong with this picture.

Debra
“If” these people are not under arrest there is no need for them to post bail, actually there is no logical reason for them to be locked up in jail for what I imagine will be a 72 hour hold. The good sheriff can say all he wants that it is done for the individuals own good but, I for one don’t buy it. I am more concerned about two things, 1st I agree, and believe anyone with any common sense would, jail is the wrong place to put these people, the antagonistic attitude of a type a personality cop and the mental state of an individual in this circumstance, this juxtaposition often is recipe for trouble. 2nd and this is just supposition on my part, if Boise quit paying for the housing of individuals in the good sheriff’s “bed and breakfast” it wouldn’t be long before the good sheriff stops putting people in his so called “drunk tanks”.

Why is everyone acting like this is so shocking an event that a drunk would be taken off the street? Heck even in Mayberry Andy and Barney used to make sure Otis slept it off in the jail rather than leave him on the street, where he might be a harm to himself or others.

Hey BG..a couple of things..

The ASAM is the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Level III is the criteria for basic, non-clinical inpatient care, which is what the A.H. is providing.

Exceeding Level III is Level IV, the highest level on the scale and is reserved for medically unstable patients who require an actual clinical setting during their withdrawal process.

Level I is outpatient care and Level II is “Intensive outpatient care”, neither of wich is what the A.H. is set up to provide, though it may refer parties to services appropriate for those cases and situations.

I would also be willing to guess that people who are over 0.2 need a detailed clinical workup and screening as well prior to admissio. The type of screening that is best done in a clinical setting prior to addmission to AH.

I’m not a part of the A.H. services, but it is not uncommon for addiction care to require a referal . In otherwords, after you have been seen by a therapist, a physician, or other social services. This prevents both overload and allows for proper screening and better utilization of rescources.

Just my thoughts….

EDITOR NOTE–Nemo, would you suggest calling 911 for an EMS transport to the emergency room for the work up? As it was sold–and even Allumbaugh House reports–the idea is to save E.R. visits and costs. If the criteria for admission, or denial, are based on sound medical/financial reasoning, Allumbaugh cannot serve the purpose for which it was intended…which was to be an alternative to jail and E.R. visits.

Per my conversation today with Allumbaugh which is Terry Reily Health Services, there is a Pre-screening which takes place. No one can simply be dropped off. For those whom don’t have insurance then they work on a sliding scale of income. For those whom don’t have an income then they are referred to Garden City however there is a probable two week waiting period to be seen. Then you have to prove your income for the past year in the event you had income. A report can be retrieved by the State of Idaho however for those down and out – how does one even have a clue? Sure go get your statement and we might help you.

I’d sure like to see the records or reports on whom they helped through this process as well as ‘not charged’ for something buy BPO to validate whom what situations they are providing to this center.
Tom see’s it.

Debra

I guess I have been cut off from commenting on here, at least as far as critiquing the good sheriff goes. I will refrain from further comment of him at least until… ooppss don’t go there…. I have a question that should be innocuous enough. Just exactly what benefit do the city’s/ county that subsidize Terry Riley get out of this deal? While this may not be a drop off spot for those who the editor has so callously labeled as homeless drunks, I still say subjecting them to being locked up for days at a time in the jail is a very bad idea. Remember this if a person is held for being a danger to themselves it is not just a matter of keeping them till they calm down/ sober up as we are being led to believe it is a 72 hour hold.

I love the idea of taxing booze for alcohol treatment. We ought to quit messing around and just tax it to the point where buying a drink automatically includes a taxi ride to the nearest treatment center. Like a conveyor belt!

People say I make unwarented comments. At least mine are based in fact.

Tom – where are you getting this 72hr number? Taking someone in for a detox hold is NOT the same as taking them on an Emergency Mental Hold. A detox hold (authorized by Idaho Code 39-307A(b))only lasts as long as it takes for the person to sober up and be able to operate in society without endagering themself or others. If there’s a Deputy reading, feel free to correct me, but last I checked, when the person drops below a .10 BAC they are sent on their merry way. Usually these detox holds involve people who are well into the .30 range and sometimes the .40 range. They’re not buzzed, they’re ripped and usually unable to walk, talk, or control bodily functions! (sorry for the mental image, but that’s what we deal with) At normal dissipation rates, we’re talking a stay of no more than 15hrs for a .40 (the average person would be in a coma at that level). By code, the detention can’t be more than 24hrs.

Also, there is NO bond as they are not under arrest. And there is no criminal report or charges if it is solely a detox hold.

As LJ indicated, taking someone to an actual detox facility would definitely be preferred by law enforcement. Unfortunately, even when AH was accepting drop offs, it was on Friday and Saturday nights — that is not primetime for the people who would need those services. The people getting trashed on the weekend need to be taken home by a buddy. The candidates for detox are people like Kelly Summers who was killed just recently when he stumbled in front of a car on State Street.

I will call the sheriffs office tomorrow and see if I can get their stats…If you read my post I said exactly what you said about mental holds which is the only way they can legally put these people in a cell..Here is what I posted.. “And what happens if the individual does not want to go to jail? It has been stated here that they have committed no crime so locking them up isn’t really an option, unless you use the mental health stipulations IE a danger to themselves or others, then they are held for 72 hours (not including weekends).” We are not in disagreement on this point, what I dont get is raney pretending to be the good samaritan, which he is not.. that will get me spanked by Dave… but so be it

I can read the code… thank you.. I guess we have a misunderstanding of the term detox. Holeing a person until they sober up is not detoxing them… according to the medico’s I have talked to…. who have much more experience in this than you and I combined it is impossible to “detox” a person in 24 hours, expecially if they are as drunk as has been being portrayed in this format. According to the jail individuals are kept until the “deputy feels like they are safe to let go” I asked if that meant hours or days… I was told that meant until the deputy felt like they were safe… there was no specific time, it was up to the deputy on shift. Kinda fly’s in the face of your code doesnt it?

From the initial history the Editor provided then it still seems much like fraud and bogus claims to obtain this funding which is coming out of each of everyones pockets. Stop the funding and see what happens. The Sheriff’s office has to have a budget to provide this service as well and certain they are getting these amounts nor take insurance agreements.