Policy 13.13: Mental Health Services (Kentucky DOC)

Kentucky Corrections Policy and Procedure 13.13, effective February 4, 2025 under 501 KAR 6:400, governs mental health care in Kentucky prisons. It requires an initial mental health screening within 24 hours of entry to any institution and a mental health appraisal by a mental health professional within 14 days of admission. A person may self-refer by signing up for sick call to see psychology staff at no charge, or may be referred by any staff member on a mental health referral form; a full psychological evaluation must be completed within 14 days of referral. Services listed include diagnostic screening, psychological evaluation, referral to outpatient psychiatric services for medication, group and brief individual counselling, segregation reviews, services for pregnant and post-partum women, treatment plans and crisis intervention. The policy defines serious mental illness by diagnosis, one-year duration and significant functional impairment, names the Kentucky State Reformatory Correctional Psychiatric Treatment Unit and the KCIW Lonnie Watson C-Wing as specialised units, and requires consultation between the warden's representative and the Mental Health Authority before housing, transfer or disciplinary decisions involving someone meeting the SMI criteria.