Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2008

Floor Speech

MENTALLY ILL OFFENDER TREATMENT AND CRIME REDUCTION REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - September 27, 2008)

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Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is similar to H.R. 3992, which was authored by Crime Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott of Virginia which passed our House in January.

The Senate bill focuses on expanding the allowable uses of funds in existing programs that provide assistance to mentally ill offenders. It reauthorizes the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Grant Program at the current level of $50 million. It expands the permissible use of funds for mental health courts that will incorporate pretrial services and assessments for alternatives to incarceration.

Funds under this bill can be used to assist law enforcement agencies with identifying and reducing the risk of harm to mentally ill offenders, while also maintaining public safety.

Finally, this bill will provide States and units of government with funding to improve the treatment of female offenders with mental illness.

Despite common misconceptions, the majority of mentally ill people who are arrested and incarcerated are low-level, nonviolent offenders. This legislation will help jurisdictions assist mentally ill people in ways that help keep them out of our jails and prisons if that's not where they belong.

This is a good bill, and I urge its passage.

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