5-01/050.10 Housing for Mentally Ill Inmates



When an inmate is diagnosed by Correctional Health Services' (CHS) mental health personnel as suffering from a mental illness, the inmate shall be assigned the special handling code sub-classification [REDACTED TEXT] ("Mental Health"). The [REDACTED TEXT] sub-classification indicates the inmate is in need of mental health housing.

In addition, the following definitions have been approved by CHS to indicate inmate mental health levels of care, as determined by mental health staff:

  • Level of Care [REDACTED TEXT] - No current mental health impairments. Does not require special mental health housing.
  • Level of Care [REDACTED TEXT] - Mild impairment. Generally does not require special mental health housing.
  • Level of Care [REDACTED TEXT] - Moderate impairment. Generally requires moderate observation housing (MOH) in jail with mental health supervision.
  • Level of Care [REDACTED TEXT] - Significant impairment. Generally requires high observation housing (HOH) in jail with mental health supervision.
  • Level of Care [REDACTED TEXT] - Severe debilitating symptoms, priority for hospitalization, housing in jail with HOH or Correctional Treatment Center (CTC).

There are times when an inmate's medical condition will supersede the mental health needs of the inmate. When this occurs, the inmate shall be housed in the appropriate medical housing area until cleared by medical personnel to be transferred to mental health housing. The inmates shall retain the [REDACTED TEXT] sub-classification throughout their stay in the medical housing area. This will prevent inmates from being transferred to a non-mental health housing area after being discharged from a medical housing area.

In the event any inmate requires both High Observation Housing (HOH) and medical housing, personnel shall consult with CHS staff to determine the appropriate housing location.

Department personnel shall ensure inmate safety checks and documentation are in compliance with Custody Division Manual section 4-11/030.00, "Inmate Safety Checks."