2005 Vermont Code - § 907. — Mental health service for inmates; powers and responsibilities of commissioner

§ 907. Mental health service for inmates; powers and responsibilities of commissioner

The commissioner shall administer a program of mental health services which shall be available to all inmates and shall provide adequate staff to support the program. The program shall provide the following services:

(1) Within 24 hours of admittance to a correctional facility all inmates shall be screened for any signs of serious mental illness.

(2) A thorough evaluation of each inmate who has a history of serious mental illness or who shows signs or symptoms of serious mental illness at the initial screening or as observed subsequent to entering the department in a timely and reasonable fashion. The evaluation shall be conducted by a mental health professional who is qualified by training and experience to provide diagnostic, rehabilitative, treatment or therapeutic services to persons with serious mental illness. The evaluation shall include review of available medical and psychiatric records.

(3) The development and implementation of an individual treatment plan, when a clinical diagnosis by a mental health professional indicates an inmate is suffering from serious mental illness. The treatment plan shall be explained to the inmate by a mental health professional.

(4) Access to a variety of services and levels of care consistent with the treatment plan to inmates suffering serious mental illness. These services shall include, as appropriate, the following:

(A) Follow-up evaluations.

(B) Crisis intervention.

(C) Crisis beds.

(D) Residential care within a correctional institution.

(E) Clinical services provided within the general population of the correctional facility.

(F) Services provided in designated special needs units.

(G) As a joint responsibility with the department of developmental and mental health services, and working with community mental health centers, the implementation of discharge planning for community services.

(H) Other services that the department of corrections and the department of developmental and mental health services jointly determine to be appropriate.

(5) Procedures to actively seek and identify any inmate who has not received the enhanced screening, evaluation and access to mental health services appropriate for inmates suffering from a serious mental illness.

(6) Special training to medical and correctional staff to enable them to identify and initially deal with inmates with a serious mental illness. This training shall include the following:

(A) Recognition of signs and symptoms of serious mental illness in the inmate population.

(B) Recognition of signs and symptoms of chemical dependence and withdrawal.

(C) Recognition of adverse reactions to psychotropic medication.

(D) Recognition of improvement in the general condition of the inmate.

(E) Recognition of mental retardation.

(F) Recognition of mental health emergencies and specific instructions on contacting the appropriate professional care provider and taking other appropriate action.

(G) Suicide potential and prevention.

(H) Precise instructions on procedures for mental health referrals.

(I) Any other training determined to be appropriate. (Added 1993, No. 224 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1995, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)