8910-1010Hampden Sheriff's Regional Mental Health Stabilization Unit
For the operations of a regional behavioral evaluation and stabilization unit to provide forensic mental health services within existing physical facilities for incarcerated persons in the care of correctional facilities in the commonwealth; provided, that the unit shall be located in Hampden county to serve the needs of incarcerated persons in the care of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties; provided further, that the services of the unit shall be made available to incarcerated persons in the care of the department of correction; provided further, that the Hampden sheriff's department shall work in cooperation with the Middlesex sheriff's department to determine a standardized set of definitions and measurements for patients at both regional behavioral evaluation and stabilization units; provided further, that the sheriff, in conjunction with the department of correction and the Massachusetts sheriffs' association, shall prepare a report that shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of incarcerated persons in facilities located in counties that were provided services in each unit; (ii) the number of incarcerated persons in department of correction facilities that were provided services in each unit; (iii) the alleviation in caseload at Bridgewater state hospital associated with fewer incarcerated persons in the care of counties being attended to at the hospital; (iv) the estimated and projected cost savings in fiscal year 2026 to the sheriffs' offices and the department of correction associated with the regional units; and (v) the deficiencies in addressing the needs of incarcerated women; provided further, that the report shall be submitted to the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 6, 2026; and provided further, that the department of mental health shall maintain monitoring and quality review functions of the unit
