Enacts the PTSD awareness and rehabilitation act

• Democratic7
• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jamaal Bailey says this is needed

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe problem that is not discussed and addressed enough within the criminal justice system. Many incarcerated people have experienced trauma or suffer from mental health conditions without treatment. From emotional and psychological distress to physical health problems and social difficulties, the impact of untreated PTSD is both profound and pervasive. Untreated PTSD can lead to debilitating flashbacks, severe panic attacks, and persistent hyper- vigilance. The Bureau of Justice Statistics conducted a study to estab- lish the prevalence of PTSD among incarcerated individuals. In that study, it was revealed that almost half of the incarcerated individuals had PTSD or severe psychological distress, and many of them had restricted access to mental health treatment. Untreated PTSD can raise a person's likelihood of re-incarceration by 60% within five years. To break the cycle, we can offer the right screening and trauma-informed rehabilitation to help them return to the community successfully. Correctional facilities that have adopted trau- ma-informed care have shown a measurable improvement in incarcerated individual's behavior and performance after release. California and Washington have adopted PTSD screening and treatment, which has reduced prison violence by 30% and recidivism by 20%. Facilities that offer mental health care have reduced incidents of misconduct by 34% and inci- dents of self-harm by 25%. Enacting this bill will pave the way for the criminal justice system to effectively rehabilitate and successfully reintegrate individuals suffering from PTSD. In addition to that, it can also improve conditions at correction facilities, reduce the number of offenses repeated by a prisoner, and provide for a more successful return to society post-release.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.