Bill focuses on treatment instead of jail for mentally ill

The contentious relationship between mental health treatment and criminal justice continues to gain national attention. And now, finally, action. Indiana has managed to at least keep up, even take the lead, on aspects of this complex issue.

The Marion County Mental Health Alternative Court, an evidence-based option focused on treatment rather than incarceration, is one example. The Reuben Engagement Center, scheduled to open later this year, is another.

Diversion is ideal, but will take time and concerted effort. For now, incarceration for some individuals diagnosed with a mental illness is the reality. This is partly due to lack of participation from correctional institutions and agencies. At times, they do not even show up to the race.

It took a lawsuit before the Indiana Department of Correction recognized that placing symptomatic individuals with mental illness into solitary confinement is not considered treatment and is a human rights violation.

A logical referral process for individuals diagnosed with mental illness doesn’t appear to be a priority for IDOC; dropping them off at hospitals and homeless shelters has sufficed.

In the most recent legislative session, HB1102 was promising. It required IDOC to collaborate with the Division of Mental Health and Addictions to make an informed decision on grants to be awarded to counties for recidivism reduction programming. Funding was to come from anticipated savings associated with the 2013 criminal code reform.

HB1102 flew through the House and Senate and was signed by the governor. However, IDOC has reported $0 in savings despite a 17 percent decrease in prison population.

IDOC’s commitment and participation in addressing the challenges associated with the intersection of mental health and criminal justice are unclear and inconsistent at best. Again, collaboration between the systems is critical to impart real change, but collaboration is impossible when one does not show up.

Gabrielle Flash

Indianapolis