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Mentally Ill Inmates: Better Data Would Help Determine Protection and Advocacy Needs

GGD-91-35 Published: Apr 17, 1991. Publicly Released: May 22, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the treatment of mentally ill inmates in correctional facilities, focusing on: (1) the extent to which correctional facilities subjected such inmates to abuse or neglect, as defined by the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act; and (2) whether the act covered such inmates.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Health and Human Services The Secretary of Health and Human Services should require NIMH to have PAMI identify in their annual reports to NIMH the number and types of complaints received and their status and disposition by type of facility for inclusion in the Secretary's annual report to Congress on protection and advocacy matters.
Closed – Implemented
HHS stated that the recently revised form requires advocacy groups to identify the number of complaints received from prisoners. While not in formats recommended, the action taken, according to HHS, responds to needs addressed by the GAO recommendation.

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Topics

Correctional facilitiesEmotionally disturbed personsFederal administrative lawLocal governmentsMental health care servicesNegligencePeople with disabilitiesPrisonersReporting requirementsState-administered programs