More counseling of DeKalb County Jail inmates might keep criminals from committing new crimes after their release, stated a Ben Gordon Center survey.

Of 68 potential respondents, 34 inmates voluntarily answered the July survey to determine the need for jail-based counseling services beyond narcotics, Alcoholics Anonymous and volunteer work.

Eighteen inmates, or 53 percent, said they would participate in counseling if it were offered to them. When asked for suggestions about counseling programs, one respondent said, “Go for it! I feel a lot of people could use and need help in every way. People have hard times with their problems and also coping with them.”

DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said the survey shows a need for counseling. Scott said he had money in his 1991 budget for the services, but the funds were cut.

“If we can help people in jail who have the problems, maybe they won’t come back,” Scott said.

Although counseling is not a guarantee that inmates won’t commit new crimes after their release, any possible reduction of crime is worthwhile, said Jim Graves, Ben Gordon Center executive director.

“Jails are becoming the mental institutions of the 1990s,” Graves said. “This isn’t an easy population to turn around. But 10 or 15 percent, if helped, might not be back in jail so soon.”

The DeKalb County Mental Health Board is asking the DeKalb County Board for an increase in funds to pay for a jail counseling program, he said.