Sheriff Koutoujian addresses Cambridge Rotary Club

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian (from left) with Cambridge Rotary Club President Dana McIntyre and Greeter Coordinator Joe Kobialka following the May 19, 2016 meeting.CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian joined members and guests of the Cambridge Rotary Club on Thursday, May 19 to discuss the latest programming at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office.

“I want to thank the Cambridge Rotary Club for the opportunity to talk about the important work we are doing at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “Cambridge was host to one of our facilities for many years, and it’s important that we continue to have these kinds of conversations to inform the public about our efforts to help inmates return to the community healthier and more prepared to be productive citizens.”

The Sheriff spoke in depth about two new initiatives at the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction.  The first, known as the Medication Assisted Treatment and Directed Opioid Recovery program – or MATADOR for short – provides inmates nearing the end of their sentences with a shot of Vivitrol, a non-habit forming medication which blocks the effects of opioids for up to a month.  Along with substance abuse counseling and programming, the program seeks to continue an inmate’s sobriety upon their reentry to the community.

The second initiative discussed was the Commonwealth’s first specialized housing unit for incarcerated veterans.  The Housing Unit for Military Veterans, or HUMV, offers programming specifically tailored to veterans’ needs: employment readiness, substance abuse treatment, visits from the Department of Veterans Services, and guest speakers from military and civilian life.  Governor Charlie Baker joined the Sheriff to formally open the unit in March.

“MATADOR and HUMV are more than acronyms – they are commitments to serve the specialized needs of our population in a manner that supports recovery and rehabilitation,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.