MIDDLETON – (Podcast) The past several years have brought big changes to correctional facilities in Massachusetts. In a podcast interview Essex County (MA) Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger discusses some of the many changes in programming and practices at his facilities. Coppinger explains Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) as well as sweeping updates in healthcare for inmates around addiction and recovery. His department has also received several new grants that will target increasing job training skills to enhance re-entry opportunities in the community for inmates. Coppinger also shares news on a court challenge impacting his Middleton facility brought by the ACLU and explains the national implications of the court case. MSO News has included (below) two recent updates from the Sheriff’s office on a state pilot program addressing the opioid crisis and the recent graduation by correctional officers. Essex County Sheriff’s Office Web Site – Click Here
Kevin F. Coppinger – Essex County Sheriff with Bill Newell
Essex Sheriff’s Department to join state pilot program and will work with U.S Attorney’s Office to address opioid crisis.
Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger announced today that Essex County will work with U. S. Attorney’s office and will join the state pilot program to explore expanding Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to deal with inmates who are addicted to opioids.
Sheriff Coppinger recently met with United States Attorney Andrew Lelling to discuss best practices for the proper implementation of MAT while addressing the operational, safety and security concerns of correctional facilities. Coppinger stated, “I am pleased and encouraged by the US Attorney’s willingness to work collaboratively with Essex County Sheriff’s Department to help develop best practices for the proper care of inmates in need of treatment while addressing the operational, safety and security concerns of our facilities.”
In addition, Sheriff Coppinger formally asked the Legislature to amend the Governor’s Care Act to include Essex County in the Pilot Program to develop an implementation plan to facilitate the delivery of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder at county correctional facilities located in Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and Norfolk counties.
ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT GRADUATES 23 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS FROM BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY
Haverhill, Massachusetts, Dec. 7, 2018… Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger administered the oath to 23 new Correctional Officers of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department (ECSD) at the Basic Training Academy graduation ceremony held at Northern Essex Community College (NECC) on December 7. The rigorous, 12-week Basic Training Academy on the campus of NECC is the final phase of the process to become a Correctional Officer. The successful graduates, who come from communities throughout Essex County, will now be assigned full-time positions at ECSD run facilities.
The new Correctional Officers are: Michael Bentley, Colin Bode, Nicholas Bona, Ashley Brunelle, Dennis Castro, Ryan Danahey, Joshua DeBarros, Paul DeCoste, Ryan Gabriel, Tyler Green, Blake Hery, Matthew Higgins Jr., Joshua Lavoie, Shawn Moniz, Anthony Montes, Jose Murcia, Ryan Smith, Sokhoeun Soun, Bhuc Tu, Bryan Wagner, Yesenia Winters, Antony Yan, Michael Zizzo.
