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2004 SESSION

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 88 Encouraging the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice to include an evaluation and reporting component in any new mental health or substance abuse treatment initiative undertaken for offenders in their custody.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 17, 2004 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 9, 2004

WHEREAS, the Joint Commission on Behavioral Health Care and subsequently the Behavioral Health Care Subcommittee of the Joint Commission on Health Care assisted by the Commission on Youth and a Task Force Studying Treatment Options for Offenders with Mental Illness or Substance Abuse Disorders undertook a three-year study as required by Senate Joint Resolution No. 440 (2001), and Senate Joint Resolution No. 97 and House Joint Resolution No. 142 (2002); and

WHEREAS, the Joint Commission on Behavioral Health Care and subsequently the Behavioral Health Care Subcommittee of the Joint Commission on Health Care found in its three-year study that while a number of studies have shown mental health and substance abuse treatment as an alternative to or in combination with incarceration is effective in reducing the incidence of subsequent criminal behavior, there is a need for evaluation that is specific to the treatment programs being provided in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, it was reported to the Behavioral Health Care Subcommittee of the Joint Commission on Health Care that neither the Department of Corrections nor the Department of Juvenile Justice comprehensively evaluates the effectiveness of the mental health and substance abuse treatment programs provided for offenders, although it is their intention to improve evaluation and to incorporate evaluation requirements and funding in future programs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice be encouraged to include an evaluation and reporting component in any new mental health or substance abuse treatment initiative that is established for offenders in their custody.