Statement of Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte Markup of H.R. 1854, the “Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015”

Chairman Goodlatte: Today we consider H.R. 1854, the “Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act (CJMHA) of 2015,” introduced by Congressman Doug Collins. This bill expands and improves upon the initiatives created in the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) This law created the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) to help states and counties design and implement collaborative efforts between criminal justice and mental health systems. It provided training for law enforcement to identify and respond appropriately to individuals with mental health conditions, and supported the development of law enforcement receiving centers as alternatives to booking people into jails in order to assess individuals in custody for mental health and substance abuse treatment needs. Every year, an estimated 2,000,000 individuals with serious mental health issues are booked in local jails. Serious mental illness is 3 to 6 times more prevalent in jails than in the general population. Even more individuals detained in jails each year have mental health problems that do not necessarily qualify as a serious mental illness, but nonetheless may still require a response. Adults with mental illnesses cycle through jails more often than individuals without mental illnesses and tend to stay longer. According to a U.S. Department of Justice report, approximately 45 percent of people in federal prisons, 56 percent of people in state prisons, and 64 percent of people in jails displayed symptoms of a mental health condition. The bill we are considering today ensures a comprehensive response to individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system, including support for veterans’ treatment courts, reauthorization of mental health courts and law enforcement training, increased focus on resources and training for jails and prisons, implementation of best practices for federal law enforcement, and innovative training at police academies. This legislation will ensure that state and local governments can continue to design and implement sound initiatives that improve the criminal justice system, increase public safety, reduce state and local spending, and help individuals with mental disorders. Companion legislation was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in April and the full Senate in December. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan and bicameral legislation.