Bill > H1278

This bill aims to improve the identification and treatment of mentally ill individuals within prisons by defining "mental health professional" as a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker (LICSW), or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), and establishing "residential treatment units" as therapeutic housing within correctional facilities for treatment and rehabilitation. It mandates that within 24 hours of an inmate being placed in a segregated unit, a mental health professional must assess their mental health, with reassessments every three days, and that inmates identified as needing diversion or removal from segregation due to specific mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, risk of suicide, or significant mental deterioration must be moved to a residential treatment unit or receive appropriate treatment in general population within 72 hours. Furthermore, the bill requires the establishment of mental health treatment programs, including residential treatment units, within correctional facilities in cooperation with the Department of Mental Health, and mandates specific mental health training for correctional staff working in these units and for all correctional officers.