Sheriff Koutoujian addresses Retired Men’s Club of Arlington

ARLINGTON, Mass. – Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian was the guest speaker at the March 23 meeting of the Retired Men’s Club of Arlington.

Sheriff Koutoujian spoke to approximately 100 members of the club, discussing the roles and responsibilities of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, as well as efforts to address the addiction and opioid crisis.  The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is responsible for ensuring the care, custody and control of between 1,100 and 1,150 pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates each day.  Last year alone, medical staff initiated just over 2,000 detox protocols for newly committed individuals in withdrawal from drugs and alcohol, and some 326 sentenced men participated in the Sheriff’s nationally recognized, 90-day substance abuse treatment program.

Sheriff Koutoujian also discussed the opening of the Commonwealth’s first correctional unit dedicated specifically to the treatment of military veterans.   The Sheriff was joined by Governor Charlie Baker for HUMV’s formal opening March 17.

“I want to thank the club for the opportunity to discuss the important work we are doing at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office to rehabilitate those in our custody and prepare them to make successful returns to the community,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “Through both traditional and cutting edge treatment programs and initiatives – including our new Housing Unit for Military Veterans (HUMV) – we are making a positive difference in the lives of the men in our custody.”

To learn more about the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, please visit us on the web at www.middlesexsheriff.org.

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