The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is looking to team up with Emergence Health Network to provide better mental care for inmates, even after they are released.

Emergence Health Network is busy treating patients, but when it comes to those who've been locked up, their job gets more difficult.

"Getting former inmates to see a doctor or access medication timely, is difficult," Kristi Daugherty from Emergence Health Network said.

El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles says inmates get treatment and medication, but that ends when they're released.

"It's up to you seek the outside mental health care and continue treatment. And most people don't have the funds to do that, so they go off the medication. They end up doing the same thing they did before, and end up back in jail like before," Wiles said.

Exiting inmates get only three days of medicine. Emergence's current program provides extended care only to parolees or probationers. 

"A lot of them are afraid, because in jail is where they get their medication and feel stable," said Daugherty.

One woman told KFOX 14 News, her husband seemed like an entirely different person when he was in jail.

"When he was in there he was really calm, and more settled," she said. 

Her husband has an entirely different perspective when he talked about being released from jail.

"I came out with a lot of mood swings, and symptoms of everything," he said.

He said three days was not enough.

"It's just a headache sitting there and waiting for the process. For a lot of people that's why they walk away," he said. 

So, the sheriff is working with Emergence to see if they can create a program to provide continuing care to all former inmates who need it. 

"It is important as a community that we make sure we are providing adequate care for people who are suffering from mental illness, so it doesn't escalate into where someone gets hurt or killed," said Wiles.

Emergence says they are just in the planning stages of the program, but say they are already looking for grants to help pay for the cost.The El Paso Sheriff's Office is teaming up with Emergence Health Network to wage war on mental illness in the community.

Sheriff Richard Wiles said he's looking to expand the county's role in treating inmates suffering from mental health illnesses, including the possibility of getting them care after they leave the jail.

Wiles said he's working with Emergence Health Network to create a new program that would offer extended mental health care for former inmates. 

The sheriff said that when a person is arrested, they get treatment and medication at the jail. But when they are released, they only get a three-day supply of medication. Emergence Health Network offers extended care for parolees and those on probation, if they qualify for their programs. 

If a person is bailed out or found innocent, however, they often have to fend for themselves after their three-day supply of medication runs out.

"It's up to the former inmate to seek outside mental health care and continue treatment. And most people don't have the funds to do that, so they go off the medication. Then they do the same thing they did before, and end up back in jail like before." Wiles said.

One former inmate told KFOX 14 News that the waiting and large amount of paperwork, often deter those who are released, from seeking further care.

"I'm one of the ones who just gave up on it, so hopefully people will look more into it. Hopefully Emergence will start helping people out more with the process .and there will be progress helping people out," a former inmate who asked to be referred to as Mike said.

Emergence Health Network said they are currently seeking a grant for the new program, although it is just in the planning stages at this point.