THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVES, FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT

 
                             Bridge in the Mist, by Morningjoy

Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Bill Was Signed into Law October 14, 2008.  Such legislation is a bridge for mentally ill Americans.
 

The data below was taken from this link:
http://consensusproject.org/updates/features/mioannouncement08

On September 29, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, S. 2304. The legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent.

“I am pleased to see S. 2304, the Mentally Ill Offender and Crime Reduction Act of 2008 pass into law, and would like to thank Senator Kennedy and Senator Domenici, and their staffs, for their hard work and dedication to getting this legislation passed,” said Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA). “Unfortunately, far too many people end up in our local jails and prisons as a result of mental illness, despite the fact that they are generally ill-equipped to handle such individuals and provide either the services they need, or for alternative care settings, in a cost effective manner. S. 2304 reauthorizes training and service programs to assist local and state law enforcement officials, and other entities, to provide treatment for people with mental illnesses while incarcerated, or in alternative settings, as appropriate. This bill is similar to H.R. 3992, a bi-partisan bill of which I was the chief sponsor, that passed the House last year.”

S. 2304 reauthorizes the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) for an additional five years at $50 million per year. The bill also expands training for law enforcement to identify and respond appropriately to individuals with mental illnesses and supports the development of law enforcement receiving centers to assess individuals in custody for mental health and substance abuse treatment needs. MIOTCRA, PL 108-414, created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) in 2004 to help states and counties design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. For more information about S. 2304, please view the fact sheet.

“I am grateful Congress passed this much-needed legislation, which will make our communities safer by treating the source of much criminal behavior - mental illness and addiction,”said Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN).

To date, 75 JMHCP grants have been awarded to communities across the country. The Criminal Justice/ Mental Health Consensus Project, a project of the Council of State Governments Justice Center, provides a variety of resources for state and local organizations interested in applying for JMHCP grants. For more information about the program, future grant applications, and profiles of prior recipients, please visit http://consensusproject.org/jmhcp/.

For more information on the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, contact Leah Kane.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies - informed by available evidence - to increase public safety and strengthen communities.

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OUR 111th CONGRESS ROCKS!  MANY THANKS ALSO TO FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH FOR SIGNING THIS AND OTHER IMPORTANT MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION.

Note to Representatives: 

Thank you so very much for all the excellent work you did in 2008 for mentally ill citizens.  My goodness!  We are truly proud of you and grateful for your support for America's mentally ill offenders.  I missed congratulating you on this important bill in October - I was busy running from parties unknown!   However I want you to know that we at AIMI appreciate all that you do for mentally challenged Americans, especially as you enact laws like this to reduce the number of mentally ill citizens behind bars. 

Please, representatives, help mental patients and their families, and promote public safety by opening more inpatient hospitals and relaxing restrictions against enforced treatment for mentally ill offenders.  When sick offenders are committed by judges to mental hospitals in lieu of incarceration, please allow the length of their hospitalization to rest only with the sentencing court, which court may consider input from the patients' psychiatrists.  More inpatient space would likely result in longer terms of inpatient treatment, which is especially needed for acute mental patients with violent tendancies.  These measures will help avoid atrocities like Florida's Singleton and Hill matter.

The 111th Congress is on record as being representatives who show genuine concern for the least of these, His brethren.

May God continue to guide and bless you always.

Mary Neal
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI