New law aims to improve prison inmates’ access to treatment programs

The Department of Corrections is required to have mental health and substance abuse programs available to prison inmates.

A new law, effective Aug. 1, 2026, aims to improve prisoner access to those treatment programs.

Some of the notable provisions are:

• clarifying that the department must provide substance use disorder programs for both adults and juveniles and that those programs must meet minimum statutory standards;

• clarifying that the department is authorized to operate mental health units at more than one of the state’s adult correctional facilities;

• expanding the grounds for a mental health professional to refer an incarcerated person to a facility’s mental health unit; and

• eliminating the department’s authority to seek a judicially ordered mental health commitment for an incarcerated person who “refuses to voluntarily participate” in a mental health treatment program.

Rep. Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake) and Sen. Bonnie Westlin (DFL-Plymouth) are the sponsors.

HF3769*/SF4293/CH84

HF3769* / SF4293 / CH84