Section 2415.50  Mental Health Examinations and Treatment for Guilty but Mentally Ill

a)         Within 48 hours after admission to a reception and classification center, each youth adjudicated guilty but mentally ill shall be screened by a mental health professional.

b)         An examination by a licensed or registered mental health professional shall be performed on a youth adjudicated guilty but mentally ill within four days after the youth's admission to a reception and classification center.  The purpose of the examination is to determine the mental health status of the individual at the time of admission to the Department and to make any appropriate recommendations necessary for the care of such individuals.  Youth so examined:

1)         Who demonstrate acute symptoms of mental illness or who are determined to be dangerous to self or others shall be treated in accordance with the procedures applicable to other youth.  Treatment may include routine or emergency placement in a specialized mental health setting.  Youth placed in a specialized mental health setting shall remain as long as determined to be clinically necessary.

2)         Who are determined not to be in need of placement in a specialized mental health setting may receive necessary treatment services in a general institutional setting when such services are clinically recommended by a mental health professional.

3)         Who are found to be symptom free or in remission at the time of admission to the Department and are not in need of mental health treatment shall be placed in a general institutional setting.

c)         Once placed in a general institutional setting, these youth shall be examined or evaluated by a mental health professional at a minimum of every three months for the first six months and then every six months thereafter.

1)         These youth may be referred by appropriate staff or may request an examination or evaluation more frequently.

2)         More frequent evaluations may also be performed at the discretion of the examining mental health professional as determined to be clinically necessary.

d)         Three months prior to the scheduled release date of a youth adjudicated guilty but mentally ill, an evaluation by a mental health professional shall be conducted to assess the person's post-release treatment needs, that may include residential care, out-patient counseling, psychotropic medication, periodic psychiatric or psychological evaluation, high level parole supervision or aftercare release, commitment to Department of Human Services, or other supportive services (e.g., sheltered workshops, group homes, or vocational training and assistance in obtaining needed treatment or services).

1)         If the youth has received psychotropic medication within the previous 12 months, this report must include a psychiatric evaluation of the need for medication or psychiatric monitoring.

2)         A copy of the report shall be provided to the appropriate field service office.

e)         Within 30 days before the scheduled release date of a youth adjudicated guilty but mentally ill, a final evaluation by a mental health professional shall be conducted to determine whether any changes in the youth's mental or emotional status may affect the previous evaluation of the offender's post-release treatment needs.  A report shall be prepared and forwarded to the appropriate field service office no later than seven days prior to the youth's scheduled release date.