Inside the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Calif. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Democrats in the Legislature want the state corrections budget to spend tens of millions of dollars more on mental health services as a way to improve treatment and increase rehabilitation options.
They are making their case as lawmakers have just days to craft a budget deal before Sunday's deadline and as the state and a handful of counties deal with lawsuits related to the treatment of mentally ill inmates in the state prison and local jail systems.
Among the proposals is $12 million to train law enforcement officers to spot warning signs of mental illness.
Their plan also includes $24 million to train prison employees to work with mentally ill inmates and nearly $90 million for other programs to aid offenders with mentally health or substance abuse problems.
Comments (0)