[NYAPRS Enews] APA, NCCBH: Legislation Moving to Improve MH Services For Prisoners w Psych Disabilities

[Harvey Rosenthal]

Legislation Improves Mental Health Services For Mentally Ill Prisoners

Medical News Today   November 19, 2007

 

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) applauds recent Congressional
efforts to acknowledge and improve treatment for the large number of
people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders who are
currently incarcerated in U.S. jails and prisons. 

 

According to a 2006 report by the United States Department of Justice
(DOJ), entitled "Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail Inmates,"
more than half of the population incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails
- including 56 percent of state prisoners, 45 percent of federal
prisoners and 64 percent of local jail inmates - were found to have a
mental illness. Many of these inmates suffer from treatable disorders
such as major depression, bipolar disorder and substance use disorder. 

 

On November 13, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, by a vote of
347 to 62, the Second Chance Act, legislation sponsored by Congressman
Danny Davis (D-Ill.). The legislation would provide transitional
assistance to ex-offenders in an effort to reduce recidivism.
Additionally, the legislation would extend and provide a full continuum
of care for treatment of substance use disorders. The legislation also
seeks to improve mental health screening and treatment and provides
grants for family treatment programs. In August, the U.S. Senate
Judiciary Committee approved similar legislation, sponsored by Senator
Joseph Biden, Jr. (D-Del.). 

 

The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization
and Improvement Act (H.R. 3992 and S. 2304) aims to improve services for
mentally ill prisoners by reauthorizing and boosting funding for a grant
program that provides treatment for inmates and training for law
enforcement officers who treat them. The House bill is sponsored by
Representative Robert Scott (D Va.) and the Senate bill is sponsored by
Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.). On
November 7, the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 3992, which will
now head to the full House for a vote. On November 5, the Senate
introduced S. 2304. 

 

In response to the legislative actions, the APA issued the following
statement: 

 

"It is a national tragedy that jails and prisons have become the primary
mental health care facilities in the United States today. 

 

"People with mental illness, left untreated, can develop symptoms and
behaviors that lead to their arrest and incarceration. Mental health and
substance use disorder treatment in appropriate settings is often the
answer, and adequate funding for such treatment is urgently needed. 

 

"Ending the 'criminalization of the mentally ill' and the inappropriate
incarceration of persons with mental illness could prevent unnecessary
building of correctional facilities and make room for violent and repeat
offenders. 

 

"Providing more adequate funding and cooperative programs between mental
health care professionals and correctional agencies is a step in the
right direction. Providing these cooperative resources could, in the
end, help improve overall public safety." 

 

"We applaud the bi-partisan action taken by both the House and Senate.
If enacted, the legislation would represent significant steps forward in
improving access to mental health services and substance abuse treatment
programs in the United States for those incarcerated within the prison
system." 

 

About the American Psychiatric Association

 

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty
society whose more than 38,000 physician members specialize in
diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses
including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at http://www.psych.org
and http://www.HealthyMinds.org <http://www.healthyminds.org/> .

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House Passes Legislation to Give Formerly Incarcerated Persons a Second
Chance

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

 

Contact MeenaD at thenationalcouncil.org or 301.984.6200, ext. 228 for more
information and interviews with national and state mental health and
criminal justice experts.

 

Washington, DC (November 19, 2007)  - The Second Chance Act of 2007 (HR
1593), passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last week, provides
new hope for ending recidivism and allows for persons with mental health
and addiction disorders being discharged from our nation's prisons to
receive help and rebuild their lives in the community.

 

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, which has long
lobbied for passage of this significant legislation, commends the House
for its bipartisan support and urges the Senate to follow suit before
the end of the year. The National Council is the nation's association of
community behavioral healthcare organizations and works to ensure that
all those who have a mental illness or addiction disorder can get
effective and comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation in their
communities.

 

"The Second Chance Act resurrects hope for strong, healthy, and safe
communities," said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National
Council. "If we have the resources to treat those with mental illness
and addictions coming out of prison, we can keep them from going back,
give them a chance to integrate into the community, save taxpayer
dollars, and increase public safety." 

 

Each year, nearly 650,000 people are released from prison to communities
nationwide. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, half of these
people will return to prison and nearly two-thirds will be re-arrested
within three years. These high rates of recidivism are expected to cost
taxpayers as much as $27.5 billion on prisons alone over the next five
years on top of current corrections spending.

 

"The revolving door response to crime cannot be sustained or justified,"
says Tammy Seltzer, criminal justice expert and the National Council's
Director of State Policy. "With the right treatment and resources, those
leaving prison can have meaningful and productive lives."

 

The Second Chance allocates $360 million for a variety of essential
reentry programs, providing ex-offenders with a coordinated continuum of
services that will keep them out of prison. The act reauthorizes the
Adult and Juvenile Offender State and Local Reentry Demonstration
Program, under which states craft programs focusing on housing, jobs,
addictions and mental health treatment, and services for families and
children of incarcerated parents to help individuals transition into
their communities upon their release. 

 

"We know how to prevent recidivism of people with mental illness and
addiction disorders, but not enough resources are now directed to what
works," asserted Tammy Seltzer. She explained that community behavioral
health organizations across the country have already used limited
resources to craft innovative and effective programs to divert
individuals with mental and substance use disorders who come in contact
with the justice system into more appropriate community-based treatment
and support services. 

These community interventions have produced impressive and
cost-effective results. 

 

"With adequate resources, these successes can be replicated across the
country to ensure that people don't go back to prison simply because
they have nowhere else to turn," said Seltzer. "The Second Chance Act
provides hope for those leaving prison and for our communities."

 

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