Measure signed for better psychiatric care for NY prisoners

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Governor Spitzer has signed a new law to

provide better treatment of inmates with mental illness by limiting

when they can be put in solitary confinement.

The measure affects inmates with serious mental illness isolated

in "special housing units" for prisoners who have committed

disciplinary infractions.

They are to be offered a heightened level of care, including

additional out-of-cell treatment and programming. Clinicians are to

conduct periodic mental health assessments of all inmates who

remain in segregated confinement.

Others will be housed in residential mental health treatment

units that are jointly operated by the Department of Correctional

Services and the Office of Mental Health.

Disability advocates sued the administration of Governor George

Pataki in federal court in 2002. They claimed the state was failing

to provide treatment the prisoners needed and that the solitary

confinement led to severe psychiatric deterioration,

self-mutilation and suicide.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)