Assembly Passes Bill To Remove Mentally Ill Inmates From Segregated Housing Units (SHU)

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Corrections Committee Chair Jeffrion Aubry (D-Queens) today announced the final passage of legislation to improve treatment for mentally ill inmates. The legislative measure requires that inmates with serious mental illness be removed from segregated housing units (SHU) and instead placed in specialized residential mental health treatment units.

The legislation (A.9342) will require the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) to conduct a mental health assessment of all inmates placed in SHU confinement and periodic reassessments thereafter. Inmates diagnosed with serious mental illnesses will be removed from SHU confinement and placed in residential mental health treatment units where they will receive appropriate treatment and programming. These new mental health treatment units will be operated jointly by the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) and DOCS.

"The Assembly is mindful of the detrimental effects of segregated housing units on inmates suffering from acute mental illness," said Silver (D-Manhattan). "This bill is a better alternative to the current practice and will help to create a safer environment for both inmates and staff in our state facilities."

"This legislation improves the way the state of New York treats inmates who are afflicted with serious mental illnesses," said Aubry (D-Queens). "It advances treatment over punishment and better prepares correction officers who interact with such inmates, thereby enhancing safety of not only inmates and staff but of the public, as well."

New York houses more prisoners in segregated units for disciplinary purposes than any other state in the nation. Nearly a quarter of SHU inmates have a history of mental illness. Mentally ill inmates often have extended stays in segregated confinement where their mental condition deteriorates resulting in greater risk of suicide than other inmates.

In addition to mandating the creation of residential mental health treatment units, the bill will provide for increased mental health training for correction officers and prison staff. Under the legislation, the Commission on Quality Care and Advocacy for People with Disabilities will oversee all mental health programs in DOCS.