Members

Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO)

FCSO is a champion and leader in the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), providing treatment with medications for opiate use disorder (MOUD) and ensuring wraparound recovery supports upon release through strong partnerships with the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, Chris Atwood Foundation, and George Mason University The goal is to prepare people for a successful life in the community, reduce overdose deaths, reduce recidivism, and impact the health and safety of our community. From July 2020 through November 2024, the Sheriff’s Office has provided MOUD to 5,696 individuals. So far in FY 2024, over 2,150 individuals have received jail-based MOUD in the Fairfax Adult Detention Center.  One out of every five individuals screened for opioid use disorder upon booking into the ADC received MOUD treatment – underscoring the huge need for this critical treatment in the correctional setting.

Key Approaches:

  • Recognition of OUD as a chronic illness that jails are required to treat.
  • Screening for OUD during medical booking screening with confirmatory Urine Drug Screen and pregnancy testing.
  • Clinical withdrawal protocols are utilized to begin when needed, continuing throughout an individual’s period of incarceration if clinically needed.
  • Availability of multiple MOUDs based on clinical needs and practice standards.
  • Partnerships and supports during incarceration with a focus on reentry:
    • CSB for clinical behavioral health support while incarcerated and ongoing community-based treatment post-release.
    • Peer support promoting access to services and recovery support post-release.
    • Government Issued ID cards, birth certificates, and Medicaid application support as needed in preparation for release.
    • Bridge medication or prescriptions at release and community treatment center appointments.
  • Reentry efforts with enhanced release supports, such as direct linkages to outpatient clinics/ residential treatment, transportation, recovery housing grants, bridge medications and Narcan, clothing, food, cell phones, backpacks with basic transitional items, and fentanyl and xylazine test strips, in addition to linkages with community basic needs assistance.
  • Launched in 2020, this program has received national recognition and regularly shares lessons learned with national policy leaders and other jails: 2021 National Commission on Correctional Health Care Conference Presentation
    • 2022 Correctional MAT Implementation Project ECHO cohost
    • 2022 National HEAL initiative participant
    • 2023 NACo Innovation Award
    • 2025 National Jail Mentor Site selection through the Bureau of Justice Assistance
    • Technical assistance provided to other jails throughout the country
    • Successful grant awards supporting these efforts from the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA and local OAA funds (Direct Distribution).
    • Host of multiple site visits including key national policy leaders: US Congressional Delegation, ONDCP, SAMHSA, CSAT, and DOJ, as well as multiple jails and other stakeholders.
    • First Virginia jail to use injectable forms of MOUD resulting in simplified treatment approaches and patient decision-making, increased safety and security, reduced medication diversions, and reduced risk of overdose at release