The Butler County Prison will continue providing inmate programs helping them reintegrate into society.

The county prison board Tuesday agreed to continue an inmate drug and alcohol education program as well as a treatment and case management program.

Warden Rick Shaffer said there should be sufficient money left in the 2015 budget to pay the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center and the Center for Community Resources to provide the services.

Shaffer said the maximum cost would be $195,000, the amount of previous grant funding, but could be less.

“I think we can cover this,” he said.

Under proposed contracts, the prison would pay Gaiser $71,933 and CCR $31,500 for the remainder of 2015.

The 2015 prison budget is $11.3 million. Shaffer said the prison stayed under budget in the last few years.

The inmate programs originally were funded by state grants but that revenue stream dried up.

Shaffer said the two human services agencies received all the grant money, but the county will now pay them as billed for individual cases.

He explained the idea of such programs is to help someone incarcerated with problems such as substance abuse, but lacking items to function in everyday life such as Social Security cards.

“We’re giving him a better chance,” Shaffer said.

County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, prison board chairman, said in an interview the inmate programs are worthwhile based on how the participants do.

“They seem to be doing pretty well,” Pinkerton said.

According to the Gaiser Center, only a few inmates out of 37 who participated in the treatment and case management program returned to prison as of December.

The treatment and case management process starts while the inmates are in prison and continues several weeks after they’re released.

Shaffer said the county could shop for better rates down the road, but there’s not enough time to do that this year without interrupting the services.

“It’s best to stay the course,” he said.

The prison board recommended approval of contracts with Gaiser and CCR contingent upon solicitor Mike English’s review.

The county commissioners must approve the contracts with CCR and Gaiser to make the agreements official.

The prison board also discussed the search for Shaffer’s successor. He is retiring in July.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 39 applicants for the job.

Amy Wilson, chief county clerk, said the applicants are scattered across the globe.

“A far-reaching search,” she said. “As far as Australia.”

After applicants who don’t meet the minimum qualification are screened out, the remaining applicants’ information will be reviewed by prison board members.

The board deadline to have a new warden hired is April 10, so Shaffer can ease the transition process.