The Compensation Board is pleased to present this report summarizing the implementation of positions and funding for Behavioral Health Case Management in local and regional jails in Virginia in FY23.

In the 2022 Special Session I of the General Assembly, positions and funding were appropriated to the Compensation Board for allocation across Virginia’s local and regional jails during FY23. Authorizing language for the funding also required a progress report to be submitted regarding allocation and use of the positions. As the content requested for the report dovetails with the work the Compensation Board already completes each year in gathering data and reporting on the incidence and treatment of mental illness in jails in Virginia, the compilation of data for the two reports was handled simultaneously; additional requests for data were added to the Compensation Board’s annual jail mental health survey for the purposes of providing the requested progress survey. The mental health survey was provided to jails for completion in the summer of 2023 for activities through the end of FY23.

Further, in order to report on the progress of implementation of positions and funding across jails for behavioral health case management, results from the mental health survey were incorporated as a new section of the annual Mental Illness in Jails Report. Incorporating these results into the annual report will eliminate the need to require future separate progress reports on behavioral health case management. To complete the 2023 reporting requirement, excerpts from the 2023 Mental Illness in Jails Report are included in this report. The full 2023 Mental Illness in Jails Report (as well as prior annual reports) is available on the Compensation Board’s website in the Publications section.

The Compensation Board would like to thank the Sheriffs, Regional Jail Superintendents, and all jail staff involved in the collection and reporting of the data requested in the 2023 Mental Health Survey, including the added sections regarding the implementation of behavioral health case management and medical positions. The Board and Staff are thankful for the cooperation and efforts of jail leadership and staff in this reporting process.

Questions or comments regarding this report should be directed to Robyn de Socio, Executive Secretary for the Compensation Board, at (804) 225-3439 or via e-mail at robyn.desocio@scb.virginia.gov.