News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Michael Sheehan, 612-919-5918
September 22, 2016 (MINNEAPOLIS) – The Hennepin
County Sheriff’s Office released a study showing approximately half of inmates would
benefit from or are in need of mental health services while incarcerated in the
Hennepin County Jail.
During the “One-Day
Snapshot Study,” jail medical staff performed full medical assessments for 640
of the 680 inmates in the Jail on July 27, 2016. Study partners also reviewed other verifiable
information for the 68 inmates, including medical histories, public court
records, incidents during previous incarcerations, and county records from
County Departments.
The analysis
showed that 52 percent of the inmates had confirmed indicators or met other
criteria associated with mental illness. Thirty-six percent of the inmates had
a confirmed mental health diagnosis or concern in the jail’s intake health
assessment, or had confirmed prescriptions for Neuroleptic medications. An
additional 16 percent of the inmates displayed behaviors associated with
serious mental illness or had a significant history connected to mental
illness.
“This new
information is solid evidence that our jails continue to serve as the largest
mental health facilities in the State. Previous
estimates of one-quarter (1/4) to one-third (1/3) were based solely upon inmates
who self-identified during a brief health screening process performed by
Sheriff’s deputies,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. “Now that we
have better information about the extent of mental illness among jail inmates,
we can begin working on better ways to provide the services they need and
deserve.”
The health
assessments were performed by Registered Nurses from the Hennepin County
Medical Center, the medical and mental health service provider of the Hennepin
County Jail. “Hennepin Healthcare System is collaborating with multiple
community partners,” said HCMC Psychiatrist Dr. Ian Heath, “including the
Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and Hennepin County Human Services Public
Health Division, to create an efficient system connecting people with
the necessary services and supports to achieve the best plausible outcomes.”
Commissioner Jeff Johnson, who chairs the county’s Public
Safety Committee along with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee said,
“Everyone has recognized this as an issue for some time and these numbers
confirm the severity of the problem. We need expanded Crisis Intervention
Training for police and jail alternatives for the mentally ill that are proven
to work as part of the solution.”
Hennepin County
Chief Public Defender Mary Moriarty, co-chair of the Behavioral Health
Committee, said, “We know that many of our clients struggle with mental health
issues and that they should receive treatment, instead of being warehoused in
jail or prison. I hope that this additional information will push the
criminal justice system to find better solutions for these clients.”
The
Sheriff’s Office and other Hennepin County agencies have partnered to identify
several innovations that they hope will provide enhanced services for inmates
who are mentally ill, including the following new initiatives:
- Registered Nurses will conduct 24/7 health
screenings for all inmates during the booking process.
- Housing/Classification decisions for inmates
with mental illness will be based upon acuity levels as determined by Jail
medical staff.
- Inmates will be provided 24 hours’ worth of
medications upon release from the Jail, RN’s from HCMC also will oversee this
service.
- The Sheriff’s Office Court “expediter” works to
ensure inmates are making reasonable progress through court hearings and
evaluations while in custody.
- HCSO -
Look for more news on
the Hennepin County Sheriff's website at http://www.hennepinsheriff.org.
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