AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF IMMEDIATE MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

SB 826 requires Connecticut's Department of Correction to implement an immediate mental health treatment program for individuals entering custody, starting soon after arrest. The law mandates that this program, delivered by a team of mental health professionals, provide evidence-based interventions without delay. It directly affects all people newly incarcerated in state facilities by ensuring they receive timely mental health care. The key provision is the shift from delayed to immediate assessment and treatment, aiming to address untreated mental illness early in the correctional process. This policy change focuses on systemic care delivery rather than outcomes.