Recovery doesn’t always happen when you want it to. It can often begin within the walls of a county jail.

In 2023, drug offenses, in most New York counties, were the leading cause of incarceration. But providing the proper care to these inmates can be a challenge, and in years past, it’s led to some blame.

"It was very clear to me, as I assumed office, that we were lacking in care. I had heard it from the incarcerated. I had heard it from community members. I had heard it from family members of the incarcerated. So we were falling short," said Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar.

This led Sheriff Akshar to begin looking into the issue. Reason number one is a major lack of staffing among the jail’s medical provider. Following a county audit, PrimeCare Medical had been overcharging the jail, and taxpayers to the tune of $250,000.

According to Akshar, they were not providing the staffing the jail had been paying for, but still charging the jail the full contracted price.

"My job as sheriff is to keep this community safe. Part of that, yes, is going out and being proactive in the way that we administer the law and the way that we we we patrol communities and neighborhoods," Akshar said. "But it's also ensuring that when we're dealing with the incarcerated I've said this many times that that we are giving them all of the tools they need to be successful."

PrimeCare Medical must now pay back the $250,000 and provide full staffing levels for the remainder of its contract.

But this issue isn’t exclusive to Broome County, as staffing levels in jails across the state have been a challenge.

"We've had inquiries throughout the state about, you know, how did we arrive here? What were the findings? And I think what it's going to do, I think what you'll see happen is that other agencies statewide will start to take a look at this,” said Akshar.

While the repayment is a welcome sign for taxpayers, Akshar says providing the proper medical care to inmates was goal number one.

“We couldn't be happier with the folks that we have here. This was a recognition by this administration to hold the corporation accountable and get them the staff that they so desperately need so they can provide the service," said Akshar.

PrimeCare Medical’s contract expires in 2025. Broome County officials have not said whether or not they will renue the contract.