Lexington, KY – BUILD discovered, in 2006, that the Fayette County Jail did not have a drug treatment program for women, despite the success of the men’s drug treatment program in reducing the recidivism rate from 60% to 19% each year (i.e., rate of repeat arrests). Through BUILD’s efforts, former Mayor Teresa Isaac installed $175,000 into the county budget for a women’s drug treatment program at the Fayette County Jail. We have followed up each year since then to ensure that the program remains funded and 439 women have been treated to date. This program has already saved Lexington $4.5 million dollars.
