Many Pennsylvanians incarcerated in county jails live with serious mental illness, behavioral health disorders, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, or autism. Too often, these individuals lack access to essential mental health services, prescribed medications, therapeutic interventions, and other necessary supports while incarcerated. Limited or inadequate treatment can lead to worsening mental health conditions, increasing the likelihood of poor outcomes for the individual and heightened risks to public safety upon release.

To address this, I will introduce a resolution directing the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study mental health treatment in county jails. The study would report, by county, the number of incarcerated individuals with documented serious mental illness, behavioral health disorders, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and autism. It would also identify the mental health and supportive services currently available in each county jail and specify which services are and are not provided.

The Commonwealth has a responsibility to ensure that incarcerated individuals have access to appropriate care. Before meaningful policy solutions can be developed, policymakers must understand the magnitude of the need, the services currently available, and where deficiencies exist. This study will provide legislators, correctional administrators, and other stakeholders with the data necessary to evaluate existing services and identify opportunities to improve mental health treatment throughout Pennsylvania’s county jail system.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important resolution to improve our understanding of mental health care in county jails and help inform future policies that benefit incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, and communities across the Commonwealth.