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Melissa Guarnieri, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office’s assistant program coordinator, adjusts Insight graduate Adrian Welch’s cap during a ceremony last week. -
Kimberly Simon, second from right, director of programs for Yoga 4 Change’s northeast Florida region, leads Insight participants in the tree pose during a ceremony last week where Insight members were honored. -
Officials from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and partnering organizations stand with Putnam inmates who were celebrated last week for achievements in the Insight recovery program.
Ten inmates were honored for their accomplishments in a recovery program aimed a helping them defeat addiction and make other improvements in their lives.
The inmates were honored last week at the Putnam County Jail, where the addiction recovery program Insight takes place.
According to a Putnam County Sheriff’s Office social media post – which contained pictures of inmates who granted their permission to be photographed – two people received 30-day recognitions, five were recognized for 60 days, one got a 90-day recognition and one person was recognized for 120 days.
Another point of celebration was inmate Adrian Welch, who graduated from the program. Although Welch graduated from the program, the sheriff’s office said, he must remain in jail to finish his sentence
“Adrian completed his program before he was sentenced and we did not want his hard work and dedication to his recovery to go unnoticed,” Corrections Program Coordinator Kelsey Richie said. “We wanted to recognize him and hope this will keep him going down the right path so once released from prison, he can continue his recovery journey.”
Richie and Melissa Guarnieri, the sheriff’s office’s assistant program coordinator, oversee Insight, which was created at the end of 2021 to help inmates who wanted to “break the cycle of drug addiction,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Insight participants take anger management courses that can be used as part of court-ordered treatment. They also participate in yoga as well as programs offered by the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Families, Recovery Point and 2nd Opportunities.
Officials said participants are honored at the 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-day markers to celebrate their achievements.
“It’s important to recognize the accomplishments of all these milestones and not just wait until graduation,” Guarnieri said.
Insight has had numerous success stories despite being in existence for only a bit more than a year, according to the sheriff’s office. The program is doing so well, officials said, that it is garnering interest from other counties that would love to replicate Putnam’s success.
Locally, there are plans to expand Insight this year to provide programs outside of the jail for families and inmates who have been recently released, according to the sheriff’s office’s statement.
“There is a lot of trauma experienced by families who deal with a loved one who has an addiction,” sheriff’s office Col. Joe Wells said. “We want to build back trust because once released from jail, these individuals need support.”