HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1015        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1810

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Byron Rushing

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the treatment of prisoners..

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Byron Rushing

9th Suffolk

1/15/2013

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

 

Ellen Story

3rd Hampshire

 

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

 

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

1/30/2013

Gloria L. Fox

7th Suffolk

2/1/2013

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

 

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

 

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1015        FILED ON: 1/15/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1810

By Mr. Rushing of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1810) of Byron Rushing and others relative to the treatment of emotionally disturbed prisoners.  Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 554 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act relative to the treatment of prisoners..

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after

Section 32 the following new section:—

Section 32A. TREATMENT OF EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PRISONERS

(A) Prohibitions Concerning Intervention for Suicide Attempts and Self-Mutilation

(1) A prisoner who either commits self-mutilation or attempts suicide shall not be disciplined

or punished for such behavior, nor shall the prisoner be segregated or isolated except to the

extent specifically authorized by medical staff for treatment. The use of “closed solid door isolation,” so-called, to punish or manage suicidal or self-mutilating prisoners is specifically prohibited.

(B) Requirements Concerning Intervention for Suicide Attempts and Self-Mutilation

(1) The commissioner shall require that the following steps be taken to insure appropriate responses to suicide attempts. Institutional staff will be trained in techniques for responding to suicide attempts and self-mutilation that ensure the safe and quick extrication of prisoners who hang themselves and the provision of necessary first aid. A prisoner who commits selfmutilation or attempts suicide shall immediately receive appropriate medical attention and shall be interviewed by a licensed mental health professional within twelve hours of the incident, which interview shall be logged in the inmate’s medical record and in the block log where the prisoner is located at the time of the interview.