1765-S

AN ACT Relating to a corrections mental health center operated through a partnership of the department of corrections and the University of Washington; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Historically the Washington state department of corrections has provided medical treatment to those committed to its care. Federal court decisions during the 1970's and 1980's have mandated the availability of mental health treatment within the context of this corrections medical care.

While the department's overall census has increased significantly during the last five years, the proportion of mentally ill committed to the department has expanded at an even more dramatic rate. In 1985, two percent of the offenders entering corrections were considered to be in need of mental health treatment. By June 1992, this percentage had increased to fifteen percent of all incoming offenders. This number is anticipated to reach twenty percent for incoming offenders within the next five years.

Neither the quality nor quantity of mental health services within the department has been sufficient to meet this expanding need. Qualified mental health professionals have proved difficult to recruit, resulting in vacancy rates as high as twenty-two percent for these positions. Rarely do those few available professionals possess the unique skills and experience for this type of work. Corrections mental health staff training opportunities are limited as are research initiatives with this population. While such training and research has been available to state hospitals in recent years, comparable activities have not existed within corrections. In addition, coordination between the correctional mental health system and the community mental health network and other community providers of mental health care, law enforcement, and the general public should be established in an effort to build bridges of cooperation that will address the need for prevention and reintegration strategies for the mentally ill offenders that will eventually be transitioned into the community.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The department of corrections and the University of Washington shall enter into a collaborative arrangement to provide improved services for mentally ill offenders with a focus on prevention, treatment, and reintegration to society. The participants in the collaborative arrangement shall develop a strategic plan within sixty days after the effective date of this act to address the management of mentally ill offenders within the correctional system, facilitating their reentry into the community and the mental health system, and preventing the inappropriate incarceration of mentally ill individuals. The collaborative arrangement shall also specify the establishment and maintenance of a corrections mental health center located at McNeil Island corrections center. The collaborative arrangement shall require that an advisory panel of key stakeholders is established and consulted throughout the development and implementation of the center. The stakeholders advisory panel shall include a broad array of interest groups drawn from representatives of mental health, criminal justice, and correctional systems. The stakeholder advisory panel shall include, but is not limited to, membership from: The department of corrections, the department of social and health services mental health division and division of juvenile rehabilitation, regional support networks, local and regional law enforcement agencies, the sentencing guidelines commission, county and city jails, mental health advocacy groups for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and traumatically brain-injured, and the general public. It shall be the responsibility of the center established by the department of corrections and University of Washington, in consultation with the stakeholder advisory groups, to achieve, but not be limited to, the implementation and evaluation of the following strategic plan objectives:

(a) Develop new and innovative treatment approaches for corrections mental health clients;

(b) Improve the quality of mental health services within the department and throughout the corrections system;

(d) Expand research activities within the department in the area of treatment services, the design of delivery systems, the development of organizational models, and training for corrections mental health care professionals;

(e) Improve the work environment for correctional employees by developing the skills, knowledge, and understanding of how to work with offenders with special chronic mental health challenges;

(f) Establish a more positive rehabilitative environment for offenders;

(g) Strengthen multidisciplinary mental health collaboration between the University of Washington, other groups committed to the intent of this act, and the department of corrections;

(h) Strengthen department linkages between institutions of higher education, public sector mental health systems, and county and municipal corrections;

(i) Assist in the continued formulation of corrections mental health policies;

(j) Develop innovative and effective recruitment and training programs for correctional personnel working with mentally ill offenders;

(k) Assist in the development of a coordinated continuum of mental health care capable of providing services from corrections entry to community return;

(1) Evaluate all current and innovative approaches developed within this center in terms of their effective and efficient achievement of improve mental health of inmates, development and utilization of personnel, the impact of these approaches on the functioning of correctional institutions, and the relationship of the corrections system to mental health and criminal justice systems. Specific attention should be paid to evaluating the effects of programs on the reintegration of mentally ill offenders into the community and the prevention of inappropriate incarceration of mentally ill persons.

(2) The corrections mental health center shall be responsible for conducting research, training, and treatment activities for the mentally ill offender within selected sites operated by the department. The department shall be responsible for the provision of support services for the center such as food services, maintenance, perimeter security, classification, offender supervision, and living unit functions. The University of Washington shall be responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the clinical, treatment, research, and evaluation components of the mentally ill offender center. The institute of public policy and management shall be consulted regarding the development of the center and in the recommendations regarding public policy. As resources permit, training within the center shall be available to state, county, and municipal agencies requiring such services. Other state colleges, state universities, and mental health providers may be involved in activities as required on a subcontract basis. Community mental health organizations, research groups, and community advocacy groups shall be critical components of the center's operations and involved as appropriate to annual objectives. Mentally ill clients shall be drawn from throughout the department's population and transferred to the center as clinical need, available services, and department jurisdiction permits.

(3) The department shall prepare a report of the center's progress toward the attainment of stated goals and provide such report to the legislature annually.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.