Home Invoice 853 will present psychological well being remedy options to incarcerated people.
ATLANTA — Georgia state consultant Sandra Scott needs to make psychological well being remedy extra accessible to the incarcerated in Georgia. The invoice, HB 853, would supply a substitute for imprisonment for offenders battling psychological diseases.
Based on Mental Health America (MHA), Georgia presently ranks final within the nation for psychological well being care. Rep. Scott’s new invoice is a direct response to the overpopulation of mentally unwell sufferers in Georgia jails and the fee related to preserving them incarcerated.
“Not solely does it value upwards of $35,000 a 12 months to accommodate mentally unwell sufferers, however mentally unwell inmates additionally should not getting the psychological well being remedy wanted to beat their sickness,” stated Rep. Scott.
Based on Rep, Scott, Sheriffs need motion.
“Sheriffs need one thing performed in regards to the variety of mentally unwell sufferers taking over area in jails,” stated Rep. Scott.
HB 853 would give inmates a substitute for imprisonment for offenders battling psychological diseases.
A defendant who’s eligible for public psychological well being providers or social safety incapacity insurance coverage advantages on account of a recognized severe psychological sickness would have the ability to petition the courtroom for a sentence that features psychological well being remedy.
The invoice would require an inmate to determine that they meet the factors wanted to obtain the HB 853 different possibility. The courtroom would then have to agree that the inmate might serve all or a part of his or her sentence in a residential psychological well being remedy facility as a substitute of a state jail or a county jail.
HB 853 would require correctional services to organize a post-release psychological well being remedy plan six months previous to the inmate’s launch. If relevant and deemed acceptable by the courtroom, the plan might additionally embrace treatment administration, housing and substance abuse remedy providers for the offender.
