Services for Incarcerated Individuals

The Department of Justice (DOJ) should establish federal requirements for the trauma-informed care and treatment of pregnant prisoners or prisoners who are primary caretakers with mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD). Congress should provide whatever additional authority the Department needs to establish such requirements.[1][2]

Congress should increase appropriations for the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program established by 34 U.S.C. § 10421 and amend 34 U.S.C. § 10422 so grant awards are contingent upon the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT).[1]

Congress should provide federal incentives for the education and training of criminal legal system employees on mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) signs, which should include the practice of occasional screenings on MH/SUD and suicide risk.[1][2][3]

The Department of Justice (DOJ) should establish policies to ensure the limited use of restrictive housing. Restrictive housing should never be implemented for incarcerated individuals with mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD).[1]

Congress should pass legislation such as the Democracy Restoration Act to ensure that individuals with criminal convictions who have been released from incarceration are able to vote in federal elections.

To give incarcerated people some coverage for mental health care under Medicaid, Congress should pass the Rehabilitation and Recovery During Incarceration Act.