Corrections_Today_Fall_2025_Vol.87_No.3

OFFICE OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH

Ask the Doc Mental health in restrictive housing By Dr. Dean Aufderheide ing units. I need to come up to speed with the prevailing standards and best practices. Do you have any advice on how I can make sure we have a defen sible mental health program in our restrictive housing units? — Dr. New in Delaware Q: Dear Dr. Dean, I’m new to corrections and supervise the mental health program in our prison’s restrictive hous

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It is crucial that there are regularly scheduled evaluations of all individuals in restrictive housing in order to closely monitor any changes in mental status and associated impairment in adaptive functioning.

1. Preplacement and postplacement mental health screening evaluation First, you need to establish a process for qualified mental health staff to complete a pre-placement screening. After screening by medical and placement in restrictive housing, qualified mental health staff should conduct a screening evaluation within one week, but no more than 30 days afterward, depending on the symp tom severity of the mental illness. ▶ GUIDING PRINCIPLE: If you don’t look, you won’t find it. 2. Written and verbal orientation to mental health services It is critical that individuals know how to access necessary mental

Dear Dr. New, F irst and foremost, I rec ommend you familiarize yourself with the American Correctional Association’s Performance-Based Standards and Expected Practices for Adult Correctional Institutions, Fifth Edition, 2021 regarding Restric tive Housing and Extended Restrictive Housing. Make sure you understand the definition of Serious Mental Illness and the requirements in 5-ACI-4B-30. Additionally, I recommend the following 10 key components in de veloping a defensible mental health program for individuals in your restrictive housing units.

health services while in restrictive housing. Written and verbal orienta tion should be provided by mental health staff to ensure individuals have sufficient understanding and to answer any questions regarding ac cess to care issues. ▶ GUIDING PRINCIPLE: If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. 3. Access to structured mental health services and treatment It is imperative that all individu als in restrictive housing have access to necessary mental health treatment and the appropriate level of care is provided according to their identified mental health needs. Treatment and services, such as individual/group

Corrections Today | Fall 2025

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