Testimony dated June 28, 2021 in support of an act to ensure the constitutional rights and human dignity of prisoners on mental health watch.

A November, 2020 report by the U.S. Department of Justice identified constitutional violations and serious concerns regarding the treatment of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in Massachusetts prisons, resulting in the Commonwealth having the fourth highest rate of prison suicide in the nation. Significant reform, such as that proposed in S.1283/ H.2089, is needed to address these issues.