Maine Revised Statutes Title 34-A. Corrections § 3069-A. Transfer of jail inmates for mental health services

1. Eligible inmates. The commissioner may transfer from a jail to a correctional facility an adult inmate who the chief administrative officer of the Riverview Psychiatric Center confirms is eligible for admission to a state mental health institute under Title 34-B, section 3863, but for whom no suitable bed is available, for the purpose of providing to the inmate mental health services in a mental health unit of a correctional facility that provides intensive mental health care and treatment. The commissioner may not transfer pursuant to this section a person who has been found not criminally responsible by reason of insanity. The commissioner may return an inmate transferred pursuant to this subsection back to the sending facility.

2. Evaluation. The commissioner may transfer from a jail to a correctional facility an adult inmate whom the court orders to be examined or further evaluated by the State Forensic Service under Title 15, section 101-D, subsection 1, 2, 3 or 9 if the State Forensic Service determines that the jail where the inmate is incarcerated cannot provide an appropriate setting for the examination but that a mental health unit in a correctional facility can provide an appropriate setting for the examination. The commissioner shall return an inmate transferred pursuant to this subsection back to the sending facility upon the completion of the examination ordered, including any further evaluation ordered, unless the commissioner transferred the inmate for another reason in addition to the examination.

3. Disclosure of information. With respect to an adult inmate who has previously been hospitalized under Title 34-B, chapter 3, subchapter 4, the commissioner may make it a prerequisite to a transfer of the inmate under this section that necessary information be disclosed to the department pursuant to Title 34-B, section 1207, subsection 1, paragraph B.

4. Application of other laws. All other applicable provisions of law governing inmates, whether detained pending a trial or other court proceeding or sentenced, apply to inmates transferred under this section.

5. Discretion. Nothing in this section or in any other provision of law requires the commissioner to transfer an adult inmate from a jail to a correctional facility or precludes the commissioner from transferring an adult inmate from a jail to a correctional facility at any time for any other reason at the commissioner's discretion.

6. Repealed. Laws 2017, c. 147, § 4, eff. June 8, 2017.