Cass County Jail sees increase in need for mental health services

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — “It’s one of our biggest challenges that we face. And it’s a growing issue for us. We have more inmates today on psychotropic medications than we ever had in the past. We see more individuals getting booked in, getting flagged for mental health care, and follow-up than we’ve ever seen before. The numbers every year creep up,” said Andrew Frobig, Jail Administrator for Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Annual Report, 25,884 mental health assessments were made. The increase comes as the previous year’s number of assessments was 18,094.
Frobig says the other concern is that in many cases, mental health evaluations make the court process even longer.

“So if a normal case, with no mental health concerns, might get resolved within 90 days on a felony level. That one is going to be stretched out sometimes, maybe six months or longer. So that whole time they’re in jail, we’re still having to deal with their day-to-day mental health ups and downs, changes and improvements, declines, and updates. And communicating with all the different entities as well,” said Frobig.

At the Cass County Jail, doctors come in on a daily basis, a psychiatrist every few days, and inmates have access to video telemedicine.

“We’re not designed to be a therapeutic environment. And I think that there’s a lot of people that are in jail that remain in jail while the case is proceeding simply because that’s truly the only place that exists that’s safe for them to be,” said Frobig.

Frobig says there’s still work that needs to be done, and hopes there may be in the future.