Bill > S1254

This bill establishes a special commission tasked with studying and developing strategies to prevent suicides among both prisoners and correctional officers within Massachusetts correctional facilities. The commission will be composed of various officials, including designees from the Executive Office of Public Safety, the Department of Correction, and the Department of Mental Health, along with appointees from the Senate President, House Speaker, and Governor, representing diverse groups such as legal advocacy organizations, community groups, suicide prevention specialists, correctional officer associations, and sheriffs' organizations. This commission will review existing suicide prevention programs, examine training for staff, and develop recommendations for improving intake screening, identifying suicide risk, communication between staff and inmates, housing for at-risk individuals, observation and treatment plans, suicide intervention methods, and postmortem review processes. Additionally, it will explore ways to provide mental health counseling for correctional officers, reduce stress and anxiety among them, and incorporate mental preparedness into training for new officers. The commission is authorized to hold public hearings and must submit its findings and legislative recommendations by March 31, 2017, to various legislative committees.