H.R. 1392: Improving Mental Healthcare in the Re-Entry System Act of 2025

This legislation, known as the Improving Mental Healthcare in the Re-Entry System Act of 2025, aims to enhance mental health screenings and referrals for individuals in jails and prisons. The bill establishes a new grant program, where the Attorney General will allocate funds to states, localities, and the Bureau of Prisons for implementing mental health screenings at intake and providing referrals to mental healthcare providers. Here’s a breakdown of the key components:

Grant Program Establishment

Within 90 days of the bill's enactment, the Attorney General must set up a grant program to:

• Conduct mental health screenings for individuals when they enter detention centers.
• Refer those identified as needing mental health care to appropriate providers either while they’re still incarcerated or soon after their release.

Eligible Recipients

To qualify for the grants, states or local authorities must:

• Hire a dedicated mental health liaison for each eligible detention center. Smaller centers may share a liaison with approval.
• Submit a comprehensive plan to the Advisory Board showing how they will implement the program.
• Collaborate with the Advisory Board and an independent research organization to evaluate the program's impact.

Use of Grant Funds

Grants can be used for various purposes, including:

• Developing and administering a brief mental health screening survey.
• Creating necessary technology for administering surveys.
• Hiring staff to facilitate the screening process.
• Creating outreach teams to ensure proper referrals to mental healthcare providers.
• Compensating staff involved in these initiatives.

Mental Health Screening Survey

The required mental health screening survey must:

• Include 5 to 10 questions based on established mental health screening tools.
• Identify serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression.
• Be administered by trained staff to all individuals entering detention facilities.

Outreach Team Responsibilities

Each outreach team, comprising mental health professionals, prison or jail staff, and the mental health liaison, is tasked with:

• Contacting individuals who require referrals to mental healthcare providers before their release.
• Attempting to reach out to these individuals within specified time frames post-release.

Bureau of Prisons Program Implementation

Within 90 days of the law's enactment, the Bureau of Prisons is required to establish a similar program for mental health screenings and referrals.

Advisory Board Formation

An Advisory Board will be created to oversee the program, ensuring compliance and effective use of funds. Responsibilities include:

• Evaluating state and local plans for grant applications.
• Providing technical assistance for program implementation.
• Conducting evaluations to monitor program effectiveness and making necessary adjustments.

Evaluation Activities

Independent research organizations will be contracted to evaluate the impact of each funded program on various metrics, including:

• Criminal justice outcomes (such as arrest and incarceration rates).
• Employment and wage rates of participants.
• Mental healthcare utilization rates.

Funding

The bill authorizes the appropriation of funding as follows:

• $100 million for fiscal year 2026, with increased amounts for the subsequent years.
• Funds will be allocated to grant programs, evaluation activities, and the operational costs of the Advisory Board.

Definitions

The bill includes definitions for terms such as "mental healthcare provider," "eligible detention center," and "severe mental illness" to clarify the scope of the legislation.

Relevant Companies

None found.