U.S.
Sen. Mike Johanns, along with a bipartisan group of 16 Senators,
introduced legislation Monday to reauthorize and improve current mental health laws dealing with the
treatment of criminals suspected of mental illness.
"Our
law enforcement professionals are often on the front lines when it comes to
identifying and interacting with the mentally ill," Johanns said. "The goal of
this legislation is to help law enforcement ensure incarcerated people with
mental illnesses receive the services they need. In doing so, we can help
prevent future violent actions and give our officers more time to do their
primary job of protecting our communities."
The
president of the Major Counties Sheriffs Association recently estimated that as
many as 30 percent of inmates under his supervision are suffering from mental
health conditions. The former executive director of the National Sheriffs
Association echoed that concern saying in many areas, "the county's jails hold
more people with severe psychiatric illnesses than any psychiatric facility in
the county."
The Justice & Mental Health Collaboration Act reauthorizes and improves current law known as the Mentally Ill Offender
Treatment and Crime Reduction Act, which passed in 2004. Key
provisions in the act will:
- Continue
support for mental health courts and crisis intervention teams, both of which
save lives and money;
- Wisely
direct grant funds to prioritize programs proven effective;
- Support
the development of curricula for police academies and orientations to help
officers identify the warning signs of inmates with mental illness;
- Increase
focus on corrections-based programs, like transitional services that reduce
recidivism rates and screening practices that identify inmates with mental
health conditions; and
- Cuts
federal red tape to give local officials greater control over an inmate's
enrollment in mental health programs.
Courtesy- Sen. Mike Johanns
