The treatment of mentally ILL individuals in jails is critical, especially since such individuals are vulnerable and often abused while incarcerated

The Lucas County Sheriff's Office in Toledo, Ohio will receive $2 million from the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA #16.753) to build a new dedicated mental health unit at the Lucas County Corrections Center. Approximately 24% of inmates booked into the current facility screen positive for serious and persistent mental illness, and 23% received behavioral health services within a year before or after booking. The new unit will allow for proper inmate management and mental health service delivery in a setting conducive to treatment, as the existing jail is antiquated and not suitable. Completion is expected by September 30, 2023. The funding will support construction of a modernized facility with dedicated space for evaluating and serving the mental health needs of incarcerated individuals in Lucas County, Ohio.

Untreated, their psychiatric illness often becomes worse, and they may leave the jail sicker than when they entered. According to a 2017 report from the U.S. Department of justice, approximately 37% of individuals incarcerated in prisons have a history of mental health problems. This same report notes that the numbers are even higher for people in county jails. Locally, 24% of inmates booked into the lucas county corrections center (lccc) are screening positive for serious and persistent mental illness. Additionally, 23% of individuals booked into lccc received behavioral health services one year prior to, and/or one year post booking. The lucas county corrections center is currently antiquated, not conducive to proper inmate management, and does not provide a setting where proper inmate mental health services can be conducted. IT is the intent of the lucas county sheriff's office and the lucas county commissioners to build a new facility, which will include a dedicated mental health unit.