"Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003" passed by unanimous consent of Senate

On October 27, 2003, the U.S. Senate passed the landmark "Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003" by unanimous consent.

Download the text of the bill here (PDF file).

S.1194 was introduced June 5 by Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH). “In my time as an Ohio county prosecutor, I saw firsthand the disproportionate number of mentally ill people in the criminal justice system,” said Senator DeWine. “Today the problem is just as disturbing. According to the recent report by Human Rights Watch, one in six people in U.S. prisons are mentally ill and there are three times as many mentally ill people in prisons as in mental hospitals. My bill would address the problem where it starts by providing treatment to mentally ill non-violent offenders and training to law enforcement officials who most often come in contact with them. I am glad that the Senate has passed the bill and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

The bill was sent to the House, where it is sponsored by Representative Ted Strickland (D-OH), and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Additional information on this legislation can be found in the announcement of its introduction.