Shasta County Jail Launches Medication-Assisted Treatment Program for Inmates

Shasta County officials have launched a comprehensive modernization effort at the Shasta County Jail in Redding, California, including a new medication-assisted treatment program for inmates with substance use disorders and preparations for statewide reentry services set to begin this fall.

New Medical Provider Brings Expanded Services

The jail began working with Mediko, a physician-founded correctional healthcare company, on June 1, 2026, following several inmate deaths in recent years that highlighted gaps in medical and mental health care. Custody Captain Jesse Gunsauls said the partnership represents a significant shift in how the facility approaches inmate health.

Mediko has nearly doubled the jail's nursing staff since taking over, increasing access to medical care for the facility's population. The provider also coordinates mental health counseling through the California Department of State Hospitals, addressing what officials describe as growing mental health needs among inmates.

Medication-Assisted Treatment Program Launches

A key component of the new healthcare model is the introduction of medication-assisted treatment for inmates with substance use disorders. The program provides FDA-approved medications such as buprenorphine and methadone to help manage opioid dependence, combined with counseling and behavioral health services.

Medication-assisted treatment has become the standard of care for opioid use disorder in community settings, but access remains limited in many correctional facilities. Research consistently shows that providing MAT during incarceration reduces overdose deaths after release, improves treatment retention, and decreases recidivism rates.

The Shasta County program joins a growing number of California jails implementing MAT as part of broader efforts to address the intersection of substance use and incarceration. Studies indicate that individuals with opioid use disorder are up to 40 times more likely to die of an overdose in the first two weeks after release from jail or prison compared to the general population.

CalAIM Reentry Program Prepares for October Launch

Beyond immediate treatment services, the jail is preparing to implement California's CalAIM Justice-Involved Pre-Release Services initiative on October 1, 2026. The state-mandated program is designed to help inmates continue receiving medical and behavioral health care after they are released from custody.

Gunsauls explained that the program connects inmates with appointments and community providers before they leave custody, creating what officials describe as a continuum of care beyond incarceration. This bridge between jail-based services and community treatment addresses a critical gap that often leads to disrupted care and poor outcomes for recently released individuals.

The CalAIM initiative represents a significant expansion of Medicaid services for justice-involved individuals in California. Through the program, youth and adults in state prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities can access targeted Medicaid services for up to 90 days prior to release, with the goal of improving health outcomes and supporting successful reentry.

Technology and Infrastructure Upgrades

The healthcare improvements coincide with broader modernization efforts at the jail. Officials have introduced a Guardian RFID tracking system that allows correctional staff to electronically document inmate movement, meal distribution, recreation time, and required safety checks throughout the facility.

The technology creates a digital record of when officers complete required welfare checks in housing units, improving accountability and oversight. This enhanced monitoring capability complements the expanded medical services by ensuring that health and safety protocols are consistently followed.

Construction crews are also renovating the jail's third floor and converting two former courtrooms into new operational space. The project temporarily reduces the jail's capacity by approximately 160 beds while work is underway. Once the third floor renovation is complete, construction will move to the second floor and eventually the first floor as part of a phased modernization plan.

Addressing Long-Term Housing Challenges

The facility upgrades come as the jail grapples with changing demands on its operations. Gunsauls noted that the facility was originally designed to house inmates serving sentences of one year or less. However, California's criminal justice realignment shifted more offenders from state prisons to county jails, and the facility has increasingly been used to house inmates serving longer sentences.

"Our jail was never intended to be a long-term housing facility," Gunsauls said. "However, it has turned into that."

This shift has created new challenges for providing medical and mental health care, as longer stays require more comprehensive services and ongoing chronic disease management. The expanded nursing staff and new healthcare partnerships aim to address these evolving needs.

Broader Context of Correctional Healthcare

The Shasta County initiative reflects growing recognition across California and nationally that jails have become de facto healthcare providers for populations with high rates of substance use disorders and mental illness. With limited treatment options in many communities, incarceration often represents the first point of contact with structured healthcare for many individuals.

Research published in health policy journals has documented the potential for jail-based MAT programs to reduce mortality and healthcare costs. A study in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found that individuals who received medication-assisted treatment during incarceration were significantly more likely to engage with treatment services after release compared to those who received counseling alone.

The California Department of Health Care Services has emphasized that the CalAIM Justice-Involved initiative aims to break the cycle of incarceration by ensuring continuity of care as individuals transition back to their communities. By providing Medicaid-funded services before release, the program seeks to reduce emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and returns to custody.

As Shasta County implements these changes, officials will be monitoring outcomes including treatment engagement after release, recidivism rates, and healthcare utilization. The results could inform similar programs in other California counties facing comparable challenges with substance use, mental health, and incarceration.