A survey of mental illness in Virginia jails was developed by the Department of Behavioral Health & Development Services (DBHDS) and staff of the Senate Finance Committee and Compensation Board. The Compensation Board posted the mental health survey on its website in August 2011 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 surveys from 67 out of 68 local and regional jails. The Newport News City Jail Farm did not respond to the survey, as they indicated that all mentally ill offenders are held at the Newport News City Jail. Of the 67 surveys received 3 additional jails were excluded from this report. Petersburg City Jail was excluded as they indicated that they do not screen for mental illness. Sussex County Jail was excluded due to absence of data provided regarding the number and diagnoses of mentally ill inmates and treatment expenditures, as a result of current staffing issues in their medical department. Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center was excluded, with the exception of FY11 treatment expenditure analysis, due to the absence of data provided regarding the number and diagnoses of mentally ill inmates.

The goal of the survey was to provide information to the Virginia General Assembly, the Compensation Board and the DBHDS regarding jail resource needs for appropriately managing inmates with mental illness. Survey questions directed jail personnel to report data as reflected for the month of July 2011, or for FY2011.

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 2011 mental health survey, submitted as of August 26, 2011. With the exclusion of Newport News City Jail Farm, Petersburg City Jail, Sussex County Jail, and Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center data from 64 out of 68 local and regional jails was used in this report, with the exception of the section dedicated to mental health treatment expenditures. Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center data was included in the analysis of mental health treatment expenditures.