BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Some prisoners at the Suffolk County House of Correction who are also addicts are getting some much-needed help from the Sheriff's Department.
Non-violent inmates are now being housed in the Oasis Unit, where they're receiving intensive substance abuse treatment.
Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins gave elected officials a tour of the unit Tuesday.
Suffolk DA Dan Conley said he's hoping the unit will help in Boston's battle against the opioid epidemic.
"Recovery programs are in fact crime-prevention services," Conley said. "But even more important, as we know, they save lives."
Mayor Marty Walsh is praising the program for getting addicts the help they need.
"The last thing a police officer wants to do is arrest somebody," Walsh said. "The last thing a DA wants to do is prosecute somebody. The last thing a judge wants to do is send someone away, particularly when they have families, and they know its just the alcohol and drugs that's causing the problem."
Suffolk County House of Correction Superintendent Yolanda Smith says they've got big plans if the initial Oasis program works.
"I see in our future Oasis 2, which will be for the women," she said.
One inmate living in and receiving treatment from the unit spoke in favor of the program.
"I appreciate what they're doing, because it starts off something," he said. "When you take care of drugs, you take care of a lot of other things. These gangs, the violence, and everything else is all combined. Everything is as one, and if you take care of one problem, you can take care of another."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports