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2008 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: O'Bannon
Co-Patron(s): Jones, D.C., McClellan
Comprehensive Mental Health Program for Offenders

Item 316 #5h

Item 316 #5h

First Year - FY2009 Second Year - FY2010
Health And Human Resources
Grants To Localities FY2009 $2,719,337 FY2010 $2,896,241 GF

Language
Page 299, line 40, strike "$309,436,879" and insert "$312,156,216".
Page 299, line 40, strike "$316,936,879" and insert "$319,833,120".
Page 305, after line 46, insert:
"NN.  Out of this appropriation, $2,719,337 the first year and $2,896,241 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to establish a pilot program of comprehensive services for treating mentally ill offenders in the City of Richmond.  This pilot program shall include a diversion program for mentally ill offenders who would otherwise be detained in jail, a jail-based psychiatric treatment team for mentally ill offenders detained in jail, and a program of after-care services for inmates released from jail."


Explanation
(This amendment provides funding for a comprehensive community-based pilot program to address the issue of Richmond City jail inmates with serious mental health problems, estimated at almost 25 percent of the inmates. Many of these individuals could be safely diverted from jail to treatment programs in the community. Most of these individuals do not receive any mental health services while confined nor do they receive after-care services following their release. As a result, a large number of inmates create behavioral problems while in jail and are frequently re-arrested following release as a result of their untreated psychiatric conditions. The program will consist of three components: 1) a jail diversion program, 2) a jail-based psychiatric treatment team, and 3) a jail after-care services program.)