[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H424-H428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MENTALLY ILL OFFENDER TREATMENT AND CRIME REDUCTION REAUTHORIZATION AND
IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 3992) to amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide grants for the improved mental
health treatment and services provided to offenders with mental
illnesses, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3992
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Mentally
Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization
and Improvement Act of 2008''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Reauthorization of the Adult and Juvenile Collaboration Program
Grants.
Sec. 4. Law enforcement response to mentally ill offenders improvement
grants.
Sec. 5. Effective treatment of female offenders with mental illnesses.
Sec. 6. Grants to expand capabilities and effectiveness of correctional
agency identification and treatment plans for mentally
ill offenders.
Sec. 7. Statewide planning grants to improve treatment of mentally ill
offenders.
Sec. 8. Improving the mental health courts grant program.
Sec. 9. Study and report on prevalence of mentally ill offenders.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Communities nationwide are struggling to respond to the
high numbers of people with mental illnesses involved at all
points in the criminal justice system.
(2) A 1999 study by the Department of Justice estimated
that 16 percent of people incarcerated in prisons and jails
in the United States, which is more than 300,000 people,
suffer from mental illnesses.
(3) Rates of mental illness among women in jail are almost
twice that of men.
(4) Los Angeles County Jail and New York's Rikers Island
jail complex hold more people with mental illnesses than the
largest psychiatric inpatient facilities in the United
States.
(5) State prisoners with a mental health problem are twice
as likely as those without a mental health problem to have
been homeless in the year before their arrest.
(6) Reentry planning for inmates with mental illnesses is
the least frequently endorsed mental health service by jail
administrators.
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ADULT AND JUVENILE
COLLABORATION PROGRAM GRANTS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations Through 2014.--Section
2991(h) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``for fiscal years 2006
through 2009.'' and inserting ``for each of the fiscal years
2006 through 2007; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) $75,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through
2014.''.
(b) Allocation of Funding for Administrative Purposes.--
Section 2991(h) of such title is further amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) (as added
by subsection (a)(3)) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C),
respectively;
(2) by striking ``There are authorized'' and inserting
``(1) in general.--There are authorized''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) Allocation of Funding for Administrative Purposes.--
For fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal year, of the
amounts authorized under paragraph (1) for such fiscal year,
the Attorney General may obligate not more than 3 percent for
the administrative expenses of the Attorney General in
carrying out this section for such fiscal year.''.
(c) No Minimum Allocation.--Section 2991 of such title is
further amended by striking subsection (g) and redesignating
subsection (h) as subsection (g).
(d) Additional Applications Receiving Priority.--Subsection
(c) of such section is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Priority.--The Attorney General, in awarding funds
under this section, shall give priority to applications
that--
``(1) promote effective strategies by law enforcement to
identify and to reduce risk of harm to mentally ill offenders
and public safety;
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``(2) promote effective strategies for identification and
treatment of female mentally ill offenders; or
``(3)(A) demonstrate the strongest commitment to ensuring
that such funds are used to promote both public health and
public safety;
``(B) demonstrate the active participation of each co-
applicant in the administration of the collaboration program;
``(C) document, in the case of an application for a grant
to be used in whole or in part to fund treatment services for
adults or juveniles during periods of incarceration or
detention, that treatment programs will be available to
provide transition and re-entry services for such
individuals; and
``(D) have the support of both the Attorney General and the
Secretary.''.
SEC. 4. LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS
IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
(a) In General.--Part HH of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 is further amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 2992. LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO MENTALLY ILL
OFFENDERS IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
``(a) Authorization.--The Attorney General is authorized to
make grants to States, units of local government, Indian
tribes, and tribal organizations for the following purposes:
``(1) Training programs.--To provide for programs that
offer law enforcement personnel specialized and comprehensive
training in procedures to identify and respond appropriately
to incidents in which the unique needs of individuals with
mental illnesses are involved.
``(2) Receiving centers.--To provide for the development of
specialized receiving centers to assess individuals in the
custody of law enforcement personnel for mental health and
substance abuse treatment needs.
``(3) Improved technology.--To provide for computerized
information systems (or to improve existing systems) to
provide timely information to law enforcement personnel and
criminal justice system personnel to improve the response of
such respective personnel to mentally ill offenders.
``(4) Cooperative programs.--To provide for the
establishment and expansion of cooperative efforts by
criminal and juvenile justice agencies and mental health
agencies to promote public safety through the use of
effective interventions with respect to mentally ill
offenders.
``(5) Campus security personnel training.--To provide for
programs that offer campus security personnel training in
procedures to identify and respond appropriately to incidents
in which the unique needs of individuals with mental
illnesses are involved.
``(b) BJA Training Models.--For purposes of subsection
(a)(1), the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance
shall develop training models for training law enforcement
personnel in procedures to identify and respond appropriately
to incidents in which the unique needs of individuals with
mental illnesses are involved.
``(c) Matching Funds.--The Federal share of funds for a
program funded by a grant received under this section may not
exceed 75 percent of the costs of the program unless the
Attorney General waives, wholly or in part, such funding
limitation. The non-Federal share of payments made for such a
program may be made in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated,
including planned equipment or services.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice to
carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2008 through 2014.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Such part is further amended by
amending the part heading to read as follows: ``PART HH--
GRANTS TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS WITH MENTAL
ILLNESSES''.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF FEMALE OFFENDERS WITH MENTAL
ILLNESSES.
Part HH of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968, as amended by section 4, is further
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 2993. GRANTS FOR THE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF FEMALE
OFFENDERS WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES.
``(a) Authorization.--The Attorney General is authorized to
make grants to States, units of local government, Indian
tribes, and tribal organizations to provide any of the
following services, with respect to a female offender with a
mental illness:
``(1) Mental health treatment.
``(2) Intensive case management services that are
coordinated and designed to provide the range of services
needed to address treatment or assistance needs of the
offender, with respect to any criminal behavior, substance
abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, housing,
employment, and medical needs.
``(3) In the case that the offender has a child, family
support services needed to ensure the maintenance of a
relationship between the offender and such child.
``(4) Related mental health services for any children of
the offender, as needed.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice to
carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2008 through 2014.''.
SEC. 6. GRANTS TO EXPAND CAPABILITIES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
CORRECTIONAL AGENCY IDENTIFICATION AND
TREATMENT PLANS FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS.
Part HH of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968, as amended by sections 4 and 5, is
further amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 2994. GRANTS TO EXPAND CAPABILITIES AND EFFECTIVENESS
OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IDENTIFICATION AND
TREATMENT PLANS FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS.
``(a) Authorization.--The Attorney General is authorized to
make grants to States, units of local government, Indian
tribes, and tribal organizations in accordance with this
section for any of the following purposes:
``(1) To provide correctional facilities within the
respective jurisdiction with the capacity (or improved
capacity), with respect to inmates of such facilities who
have mental illnesses, to--
``(A) assess the clinical and social needs of such inmates
and the extent to which such inmates pose any public safety
risks to the community;
``(B) plan for and provide treatment and services to
address the unique needs of such inmates;
``(C) identify and coordinate with community and
correctional programs responsible for post-release services;
and
``(D) coordinate the transition plans for such inmates to
ensure the implementation of such plans and to avoid gaps in
care with community-based services.
``(2) To provide for the standardization of screening and
assessment practices to identify inmates with mental
illnesses.
``(3) To provide for local task forces to identify
essential community services for inmates with mental
illnesses upon the reentry of such inmates into the
community.
``(4) To coordinate planning for the transition of inmates
with mental illnesses who are released from correctional
facilities and reenter the community.
``(5) To provide for housing options for individuals with
mental illnesses who reenter the community that provide
support for the unique needs of such individuals.
``(6) To continue and improve--
``(A) mental health programs provided at correctional
facilities within the respective jurisdiction; or
``(B) alternative programs to incarceration for individuals
with mental illnesses.
``(7) To support the development of community crisis
services that are for individuals who are at risk of arrest
or incarceration and which are designed to prevent or
mitigate a crisis by assessing the individual and crisis
involved, providing supportive counseling to the individual,
and referring the individual to appropriate community
services to stabilize the individual's condition and prevent
arrest or incarceration, respectively.
``(8) To support forensic assertive community treatment
teams for individuals with serious mental illnesses (as
defined for purposes of title V of the Public Health Service
Act) who reenter prison.
``(9) To provide for integrated mental health treatment and
substance abuse treatment.
``(10)(A) To designate staff to assist inmates of
correctional facilities within the respective jurisdiction,
in--
``(i) identifying benefits for which they may be eligible;
and
``(ii) collecting necessary supporting materials (including
medical records) and making applications for income support,
health care, food stamps, veterans' benefits, TANF, or other
benefit programs.
``(B) To contract with local community mental health
entities to perform the activities described in clauses (i)
and (ii) of subparagraph (A).
``(11) To work with the necessary agencies and entities for
transition planning for such inmates reentering the
community, including any needed applications and paperwork.
``(12) To assist such inmates to obtain, or if necessary
create and prepare, photo identification documents for use
upon release.
``(13) To create links with local community mental health
providers for case management services for inmates prior to
their release from a correctional facility in order to link
them with housing, employment, and other key services and
benefits.
``(b) Requirements for Application.--To be eligible to
receive a grant under subsection (a) for a given fiscal year,
an entity described in such subsection shall submit to the
Attorney General an application in such form and manner and
at such time as specified by the Attorney General. In
addition to any other information specified by the Attorney
General, such application shall contain the following
information:
``(1) The number and percentage of offenders in prisons,
jails, and juvenile facilities during the previous year--
``(A) who were in the custody of the jurisdiction involved;
``(B) who required mental health treatment; and
``(C) for whom the prison, jail, or juvenile facility
involved provided such treatment.
``(2) A good faith estimate of the number and percentage of
offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities who are
predicted to meet the criteria described in each of
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) during such
year, if the entity receives such grant for such year.
``(c) Allocation of Grant Amounts Based on Mental Health
Treatment Percent Demonstrated.--In allocating grant amounts
under this section, the Attorney
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General shall base the amount allocated to an entity for a
fiscal year on the percent of offenders described in
subsection (b) to whom the entity provided mental health
treatment in the previous fiscal year, as demonstrated by the
entity in its application under such subsection.
``(d) Technical Assistance.--The Attorney General may
provide technical assistance to any entity awarded a grant
under this section to establish or expand mental health
treatment services under this section if such entity does not
have any (or has only a few) prisons, jails, or juvenile
facilities that offer such services.
``(e) Reports.--An entity that receives a grant under
subsection (a) during a fiscal year shall, not later than the
last day of the following fiscal year, submit to the Attorney
General a report that describes and assesses the uses of such
grant.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Justice to
carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2008 through 2014.''.
SEC. 7. STATEWIDE PLANNING GRANTS TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OF
MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS.
Part HH of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968, as amended by sections 4, 5, and 6, is
further amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 2995. PLANNING GRANTS TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OF MENTALLY
ILL OFFENDERS.
``(a) Authorization.--The Attorney General is authorized to
carry out a grant program under which the Attorney General
makes grants to States, units of local government,
territories, and Indian tribes for the following purposes,
with respect to the treatment of offenders with mental
illnesses:
``(1) To facilitate the coordination of treatment and
services provided for such offenders by the State and other
units of government located within the State (including
local, territorial, and tribal).
``(2) To provide for a State administrator (or other
appropriate jurisdictional administrator) to coordinate such
treatment and services provided within the State (or other
jurisdiction).
``(3) To develop a comprehensive plan for the provision of
such treatment and services to such offenders within such
State.
``(4) To establish a coordinating center, with respect to a
State, to--
``(A) facilitate the sharing of information related to such
treatment and services for such offenders among the
jurisdictions located in such State; and
``(B) promote evidence-based practices for purposes of
providing such treatment and services.
``(b) Application.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an entity described in subsection (a) shall
submit to the Attorney General an application, in such form
and manner and at such time as specified by the Attorney
General, which shall include a proposal that describes how--
``(A) the grant will be used to fund mental health
treatment and services for jail and prison populations that
are identified as savings populations for such entity; and
``(B) any savings accruing to the State or other applicable
jurisdiction from providing such population with such
treatment and services would be used to increase the
availability and accessibility of community-based mental
health services.
``(2) Savings population.--For purposes of paragraph (1),
the term `savings population' means a population that, if in
receipt of mental health treatment and services for jail and
prison populations, would potentially generate savings to the
State or other applicable jurisdiction.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this
section for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2013.''.
SEC. 8. IMPROVING THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Reauthorization of the Mental Health Courts Grant
Program.--Section 1001(a)(20) of title I of the Omnibus Crime
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3793(a)(20))
is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2001 through 2004'' and
inserting ``fiscal years 2008 through 2014''.
(b) Additional Grant Uses Authorized.--Section 2201 of such
title (42 U.S.C. 3796ii) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) at the end, by striking ``and'';
(2) in paragraph (2) at the end, by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(3) pretrial services and related treatment programs for
offenders with mental illnesses; and
``(4) developing, implementing, or expanding programs that
are alternatives to incarceration for offenders with mental
illnesses.''.
SEC. 9. STUDY AND REPORT ON PREVALENCE OF MENTALLY ILL
OFFENDERS.
(a) Study.--The Attorney General shall provide for a study
of the following:
(1) The rate of occurrence of serious mental illnesses in
each of the following populations:
(A) Individuals, including juveniles, on probation.
(B) Individuals, including juveniles, incarcerated in a
jail.
(C) Individuals, including juveniles, incarcerated in a
prison.
(D) Individuals, including juveniles, on parole.
(2) For each population described in paragraph (1), the
percentage of individuals with serious mental illnesses who,
at the time of the arrest, are eligible to receive
supplemental security income benefits, social security
disability insurance benefits, or medical assistance under a
State plan for medical assistance under title XIX of the
Social Security Act.
(3) For each such population, with respect to a year, the
percentage of individuals with serious mental illnesses who--
(A) were homeless (as defined in section 103 of the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)) at
the time of arrest; and
(B) were homeless (as so defined) during any period in the
previous year.
(b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to
Congress a report on the results of the study under
subsection (a).
(c) Definition of Serious Mental Illness.--For purposes of
this section, the term ``serious mental illness'' has the
meaning given such term for purposes of title V of the Public
Health Service Act.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for
fiscal year 2009.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3992, the Mentally Ill
Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement
Act of 2007. Since the 1960s, State mental health hospitals have
increasingly reduced their populations of mentally ill individuals in
response to a nationwide call for deinstitutionalization.
The move toward deinstitutionalization was based on the fact that
mentally ill individuals are constitutionally entitled to refuse
treatment, or at least to have it provided in the least restrictive
environment. Unfortunately, neither the local governments for the
States nor the Federal Government have invested the necessary resources
to meet the needs for community-based mental health treatment and
services created and needed by deinstitutionalization.
A 2006 report by the United States Department of Justice Bureau of
Justice Statistics entitled ``Mental Health Problems of Prison and Jail
Inmates'' suggests that the criminal justice system has become, by
default, the primary caregiver of the most seriously mentally ill
individuals. The bureau reports that over one-half of the prison and
jail population of this country is mentally ill. More specifically, 56
percent of State prisoners, 45 percent of Federal prisoners, and 64
percent of jail inmates have some degree of mental illness.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill reports that, on any given
day, there are at least 284,000 seriously mentally ill people in
hospitals and jails in this country, such as people suffering from
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or serious depression. However, only
187,000 of them are in mental health facilities. This issue is of
particular concern in Virginia, my home State.
In August of 2007, the Virginia General Assembly's Joint Legislative
Audit and Review Commission released a 200-page report on the state of
mental health services in Virginia. The report revealed a number of
disturbing facts, among them that there are more people with mental
illness behind bars in Virginia than there are in mental health
facilities, with hospital care accounting for only a fraction of the
needs of our State's estimated 400,000 mentally ill individuals in
Virginia.
Since deinstitutionalization in Virginia, the daily number of
mentally ill adults in State hospitals has dropped
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from 11,532 to 1,452, a drop of 87 percent. Of the 6,350 mentally ill
individuals in hospitals and jails on a given day, 60 percent were
actually in jails because regional mental health facilities are not
providing inpatient mental health services.
Since 1991, the number of psychiatric beds available has dropped by
800, or 31 percent, and the beds that are available are concentrated in
one area of the State. In fact, there are no freestanding, profitable
psychiatric hospitals west of Richmond.
These findings in Virginia are similar to those across the Nation
that were discussed at a hearing that we held this spring in our
subcommittee which revealed that our criminal justice system is serving
as the primary caregiver for our mentally ill individuals.
One piece of good news in all of this focus on mental health in the
criminal justice system is that mental health courts have proven to be
a helpful tool for helping mentally ill individuals in several
communities that have such programs. H.R. 3992 will assist further in
this regard.
First, it will reauthorize the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and
Crime Reduction grant program, increasing the current authorization
from $50 million to $75 million. It will also reauthorize the mental
health courts program, and will expand the permissible use of funds to
include pretrial services and funding for alternatives to
incarceration.
Additionally, H.R. 3992 creates four new grant programs. One will
provide grants to States and other law enforcement agencies to help
officers learn how to access individuals with mental health illnesses
and to work with the local agencies to provide the most effective
placement for a person in custody.
Another program will provide grants to help correctional agencies
learn how to identify and screen mentally ill prisoners so they can get
help while incarcerated, or even be placed in alternatives to
incarceration. These grants will also help correctional services plan
for reentry into the community.
Another program provides grants to States to coordinate and improve
the treatment of mentally ill offenders, including facilitating
information sharing between agencies. The grant will also encourage
States to promote evidence-based practices to improve treatment and
services.
Lastly, a new program will provide States and units of local
government to improve the treatment of female offenders with mental
illnesses and create family support services and intensive case
management.
The total cost for the new programs will be $35 million for fiscal
years 2008 through 2013. That amount is much less than we are currently
spending on incarcerating mentally ill offenders who often have to be
placed not only in isolated cells, but also in isolated areas to avoid
disturbance of other inmates.
Despite common misconceptions, the majority of mentally ill people
who are arrested and incarcerated are low-level, nonviolent offenders.
These programs will help jurisdictions to assist mentally ill persons
and help keep them from unnecessarily going to jails and prisons.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I include for the
Record a letter from the Council of State Governments Justice Center in
support of this legislation.
Justice Center,
The Council of State Governments,
Bethesda, MD, October 24, 2007.
Hon. Robert c. Scott,
Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Hon. Randy Forbes,
Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Scott and Forbes: On behalf of the Council
of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, we want to thank
you for introducing the ``Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and
Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act of
2007''. We are grateful to you for your leadership and
continued support of the program.
The CSG Justice Center serves all states to promote
effective data-driven practices--particularly in areas in
which the criminal justice system intersects with other
systems, such as mental health--to increase public safety and
strengthen communities. Consistent with this mission, we have
committed for some time to convening and supporting leaders
in the criminal justice and mental health systems to improve
the criminal justice system's response to people with mental
illness.
Since the authorization of the Mentally Ill Offender Act,
the program has helped states and counties design and
implement collaborative efforts between the criminal justice
and mental health systems. The grants can be used for a broad
range of activities, including mental health courts, mental
health and substance abuse treatment for incarcerated
mentally ill offenders, community re-entry services, and
cross-training of criminal justice, law enforcement, and
mental health personnel.
As you know, approximately 16 percent of the adult jail and
prison population (350,000 individuals) has a serious mental
illness, according to a study by the Justice Department's
Bureau of Justice Statistics. The DOJ also estimates that the
prevalence of emotional disturbances among youth in our
juvenile justice facilities is even higher. Many of these
individuals have not been charged with violent crimes, but
rather low level misdemeanors. Treating offenders with mental
illnesses in the community can save money by avoiding the
high cost-per-day of jail and prison stays and expensive
psychiatric services during incarceration. The Mentally Ill
Offender program provides assistance to states and
communities to develop new--or expand existing--programs that
can both increase public safety and help these individuals
return to productive lives.
We are very grateful for your continued leadership on this
important issue. We look forward to working with you in
support of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime
Reduction Reauthorization Act. Its enactment is one of our
top federal priorities.
Sincerely,
Michael Festa,
Executive Secretary of Elder Affairs, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
Thomas Stickrath,
Director. Ohio Department of Youth Service.
Sharon Keller,
Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Texas.
Pat Colloton,
Kansas House of Representatives.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I support H.R. 3992, the Mentally Ill Offender
Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act.
This legislation addresses the unique challenges that mentally ill
offenders create for our criminal justice system.
I commend Chairman Conyers, subcommittee Chairman Scott, subcommittee
ranking member Gohmert, and the many advocacy groups for their
dedication and hard work to address this problem.
Madam Speaker, 16 percent of the prison or jail population, or over 1
million prisoners, have a serious mental illness. The Los Angeles
County Jail and New York City's Rikers Island Jail house more people
with mental illnesses than the largest psychiatric inpatient facilities
in the United States. The problem is more than one-fifth of jails have
no access to any mental health services at all.
Many criminal justice agencies are unprepared to address the
treatment and needs of individuals with mental illness. Jails and
prisons require extra staff and treatment resources for inmates with
mental illness. In addition, mentally ill offenders can be affected
psychologically by incarceration.
H.R. 3992 represents an innovative and new approach to the challenge
of mentally ill criminal offenders. This legislation is an important
step toward treating mentally ill offenders in a humane and appropriate
way.
H.R. 3992 reauthorizes the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime
Reduction Act, which encourages early intervention for individuals with
mental illness, reauthorizes the mental health courts program, and
maximizes alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders with
mental illness.
The legislation also encourages training on mental health and
substance abuse issues, establishes new State and local planning grants
to address the needs of mentally ill offenders, and facilitates
communication, collaboration, and the delivery of support services
among justice professionals, related service providers, and
governmental partners.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise to voice my strong support for the
Mentally III Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and
Improvement Act of 2007. This legislation would provide grants for
improved
[[Page H428]]
mental health treatment and services provided to offenders with mental
illness.
Over the course of the past three decades, as our country's mental
health infrastructure has deteriorated, many mentally ill individuals
have been forced to fend for themselves on the street. Oftentimes,
these individuals end up in jail or prison for offenses related to
their illness.
Unfortunately, our jails and prisons have become the sanatoriums of
the 21st century. As mental institutions have closed down, jails and
prisons have filled up. In fact, prisons currently hold three times
more mentally ill people than do psychiatric hospitals, and prisoners
have rates of mental illness that can be as high as four times the rate
of the general population.
Not surprisingly, the prison system is ill-equipped to deal with the
growing number of prisoners requiring psychiatric care. Jails and
prisons do not have adequate resources to properly evaluate
incarcerated individuals for mental health and substance abuse
problems. Police and other law enforcement officials are generally not
trained to handle mentally ill offenders. Mental health services may be
provided, but they are often underfunded and inadequate.
H.R. 3992, the ``Mentally III Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction
Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2007,'' addresses this problem
by establishing grants for programs training law enforcement officials
to better identify prisoners with mental illness and respond to their
needs. In addition, H.R. 3992 would authorize funding for developing
receiving centers to assess individuals in law enforcement custody for
mental health and substance abuse treatment. Such funding would also be
used to improve technology to facilitate information sharing among law
enforcement and criminal justice personnel, as well as to promote
evidence-based mental health care practices in correctional facilities.
Madam Speaker, it is our moral responsibility to provide timely,
appropriate and adequate health care to those in the custody of our
correctional system. The treatment of mental illness should be no
exception.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3992, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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