July 1, 2003 

Indiana Senate Bill No. 476

Community corrections and the mentally ill. Requires the department of correction to evaluate an offender for mental or addiction disorders and to arrange for treatment of an offender with a mental or addiction disorder. Establishes a forensic collaboration program to provide services to adults with a mental illness through collaboration with criminal justice, mental health, and other service systems. Establishes a forensic diversion program to permit an adult with mental or addictive disorders who has been charged or convicted of a crime to receive treatment instead of incarceration. Creates the forensic transition fund out of money appropriated to the department of correction for incarceration of individuals with a mental illness and permits counties to receive funds from the forensic transition fund to operate a forensic diversion and forensic collaboration program. Requires the county executive to establish an advisory committee to assist the county in creating and operating the forensic diversion and collaboration programs. Requires jail and department of correction physicians to administer appropriate drugs for the treatment of mental illness or addictive disorders if these drugs are available to Medicaid recipients. Requires the department of correction to take steps to ensure that released offenders may receive Medicaid and other federal benefits as soon as possible following their release from incarceration. Makes other changes.