8910-1010 Hampden Sheriff's Regional Mental Health Stabilization Unit

For the operation 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; 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 office shall work in cooperation with the Middlesex sheriff's office to determine a standardized set of definitions and measurements for patients at both regional behavioral evaluation and stabilization units; provided further, that not later than February 9, 2026, the Hampden sheriff's office, in cooperation with the department of correction and the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association, Inc., shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include, but not be limited to, the: (i) number of incarcerated persons in facilities located in counties that were provided services in each unit; (ii) number of incarcerated persons in department of correction facilities that were provided services in each unit; (iii) alleviation of caseload at Bridgewater state hospital associated with fewer incarcerated persons in the care of counties being attended to at the hospital; (iv) 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) deficiencies in addressing the needs of incarcerated women; and provided further, that the department of mental health shall maintain the monitoring and quality review functions of the unit