A survey of mental illness in Virginia jails was developed by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) and staff of the Senate Finance Committee. The Compensation Board posted the mental health survey on its website in October 2007 for completion by Compensation Board funded local and regional jails. With the support of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association and the Virginia Association of Regional Jails, the Compensation Board received completed surveys from all local and regional jails. The goal of the survey was to provide information to the Virginia General Assembly, the Compensation Board and the DMHMRSAS regarding jail resource needs for appropriately managing inmates with mental illness. Survey questions directed jail personnel to report data as reflected for given time periods, including on October 16, 2007, October 14 through October 20, 2007, or for FY2007. The data provided in this report is reflective only of local and state responsible inmates housed in local and regional jails and does not include federal inmates or contract inmates from other states. The data in this report is as reported to the Compensation Board by the local and regional jails in their 2007 mental health survey. To ensure the accuracy and completeness of future reports in meeting the requirements of the Virginia Acts of Assembly, the Compensation Board is currently establishing a task force to determine a comprehensive method of capturing mental illness and treatment data in local and regional jails on an annual basis.