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CENTER ON JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRESS ROOM | |
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| Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, 54 Dore Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Tel: (415) 621-5661 | Fax: (415) 621-5466 |
An Institute of Medical Quality report has found that inmates in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility are receiving good mental health services from the county's Department of Health and Human Services.
Similar findings were made for Juvenile Hall and the Regional Facility which led to a two-year accreditation for the facilities.
The Institute for Medical Quality reviewed a variety of health standards in the facilities and all were met.
According to a department statement, round-the-clock services are provided for inmates' psychiatric care. A multi-disciplinary team made up of four full-time staff is assigned to the jail. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Department provides funding for one of those positions, while the other three are supported by the mental health branch of the Department of Health and Human Services.
"Our commitment to meet the mental health needs for inmates remains strong," said Department of Health and Human Services Director Phil Crandall. "Our staffing levels exceed those in 16 comparable counties in the state."
"I'm very proud of the work our employees do in the jail and juvenile facilities," said Donna Wheeler, mental health branch director. "Our community is very fortunate to have a cooperative relationship between mental health, probation and jail staff."
The treatment of mentally ill by local authorities has been an issue in the spotlight recently, as the coroner's inquest into the death of Cheri Lyn Moore approaches. Moore, a mentally ill woman, was killed in April by police after a standoff in downtown Eureka.
The Institute of Medical Quality reviews facilities throughout the state to assure people get quality care.
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