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| Resolution urges update of state mental health laws |
| By readingeagle.com - Dan Kelly |
| Published: 05/15/2013 |
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State Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone, a Reading Democrat, said he introduced the resolution last month because state regulations and procedures relating to mental health treatment of prisoners are more than 35 years old. "What worked in 1980 may not work today," Caltagirone said. "We need to see what provisions in our current law need to be updated. We also need to look past the incarceration phase. "We need to dig deeper into lowering the rate of recidivism and, in turn, lessening some of the burden that's currently on our criminal justice system." According to recent estimates by the state Department of Corrections, about 40 percent of female inmates and 20 percent of male inmates suffer from a serious mental illness. "When you compare that to the total number of prisoners in Pennsylvania, we're talking about tens of thousands of inmates," Caltagirone said. The resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study of all aspects of Pennsylvania's mental health system and the laws that govern it, and report back to the House Judiciary Committee within one year. Caltagirone said that other than background checks for firearm purchases, revamping state mental health laws is the most important issue facing law enforcement. Read More. |
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