HR 3187 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to understand and comprehensively address the inmate oral health problems associated with methamphetamine use, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 26, 2007

Mr. BAIRD (for himself, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. ROSS, Mr. SULLIVAN, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. CARSON, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. FARR, Mr. DICKS, Mr. CUMMINGS, and Mr. RAMSTAD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to understand and comprehensively address the inmate oral health problems associated with methamphetamine use, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Meth Mouth Correctional Costs and Reentry Support Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 2. Table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 3. Findings; purpose; definitions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 4. Inclusion of oral health and dental care inmate and probationer statistics.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 5. Study of methamphetamine-related oral health costs in jails and prisons.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 6. Interim assistance for correctional dental programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 7. Grants for dental care offender reentry projects.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS.

(a) Findings- The Congress finds as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) One of the unexpected results of the methamphetamine epidemic has been prisoners' need for costly dental care. By some accounts, more than 30 percent of prison inmates suffer from meth mouth and about 40 percent of correctional dental spending goes toward repairing or removing teeth ravaged by methamphetamine use.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Every year some 600,000 inmates are released from Federal and State prisons and return to their communities and families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Ex-offenders who are healthy have greater success in reintegrating into the community and avoiding incarceration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) There have been few published studies (and virtually no routine data collections) that adequately characterize the oral health of inmates and the provision of dental care in correctional facilities. In fact, the absence of peer-reviewed literature has resulted in the perpetual underfunding and understaffing of correctional dental care programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Purpose- The purposes of this Act are to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) investigate and report on the oral health of inmates of correctional facilities and on the provision of dental care in such facilities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) temporarily sustain dental programs in correctional facilities that have been suddenly and disproportionately taxed by the prevalence and severity of inmate meth mouth;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ensure that oral health and dental care are accounted for in the Department of Justice's prisoner reentry initiatives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Definitions- For purposes of this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; DETENTION FACILITY- The terms `correctional facility' and `detention facility' mean any place for the confinement or rehabilitation of offenders or individuals charged with or convicted of criminal offenses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) INMATE- The term `inmate' means any person who is incarcerated or detained in any correctional facility and who is accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms and conditions of parole, probation, pretrial release, or a diversionary program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) METH MOUTH- The term `meth mouth' means a distinct and often severe pattern of oral decay that is commonly associated with methamphetamine use.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) OFFENDER REENTRY- The term `offender reentry' means the process of returning individuals to society after a period of incarceration in a prison, jail, or other detention facility.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF ORAL HEALTH AND DENTAL CARE INMATE AND PROBATIONER STATISTICS.

Part C of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 305. JUSTICE STATISTICS TO INCLUDE DATA ON PROVISION OF DENTAL CARE.

`(a) In General- In collecting, compiling, analyzing, publishing, and disseminating justice statistics relating to the operation of the criminal justice system under this part, the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics shall include and take into account data characterizing the oral health of inmates of correctional facilities and the provision of dental care in correctional facilities. Such data shall address at least the following information:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) The prevalence in such facilities of inmate dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal diseases, and other conditions affecting the teeth, gums, and mouth or affecting the proper function thereof.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) The types of therapies used in such facilities to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent the onset of the conditions described in paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) The presentable oral condition of inmates at the time of release of the inmates from such facilities (as would likely be observed by an individual who is not an oral health professional).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) The size and disposition of inmate dental programs and program budgets, including the number of dentists and allied oral health professionals on staff, under contract, or otherwise used to furnish inmate dental care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Use of Data- The Director may request and use such information, data, and reports from any Federal, State, local, or private entity, as may be required to carry out subsection (a). Such information, data, and reports may be used only with prior written consent from the Federal, State, local, or private entity involved.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. STUDY OF METHAMPHETAMINE-RELATED ORAL HEALTH COSTS IN JAILS AND PRISONS.

(a) Study- In carrying out section 305 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3737 et seq.), as added by section 4, the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, shall conduct a study to determine the extent to which methamphetamine use affects the demand for (and provision of) oral health care in correctional facilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics shall publish a report detailing the results of the study under subsection (a). Such report shall include the following information:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The prevalence and severity of inmate oral health problems believed to be associated with methamphetamine use.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The criteria most commonly used to determine whether an inmate's oral health problems are associated with methamphetamine use.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The therapies most commonly used to treat inmate meth mouth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The clinical prognosis for inmates who received care for meth mouth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The financial impact of meth mouth on Federal, State, and local corrections budgets.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The efficacy of oral health care programs designed to address meth mouth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2011. Amounts authorized for appropriation under this subsection are in addition to any other amounts authorized for appropriation for such purpose.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. INTERIM ASSISTANCE FOR CORRECTIONAL DENTAL PROGRAMS.

Part A of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 110. INTERIM ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR CORRECTIONAL DENTAL PROGRAMS.

`(a) In General- The Assistant Attorney General shall make grants to States and local, territorial, and tribal units of government, for the purpose of developing, enhancing, or otherwise sustaining dental programs that provide for the oral health of jail and prison inmates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Eligibility-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) APPLICATION- To be eligible for grants under this section, an entity shall prepare and submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Attorney General may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) PREFERENCE- In awarding grants under this section, the Assistant Attorney General shall give preference to applicants that demonstrate a compelling need for financial assistance due to the prevalence and severity of inmate meth mouth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Use of Funds- Amounts awarded under this section may be used--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) to recruit, hire, or otherwise secure the services of dentists, allied dental personnel, and other oral health professionals;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) to rent, purchase, or otherwise secure dental instruments, equipment, and supplies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) to survey, document, and report on--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the prevalence and severity of inmate oral health problems believed to be associated with methamphetamine use;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the criteria most commonly used to determine whether an inmate's oral health problems are associated with methamphetamine use;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) the therapies most commonly used to treat inmates with meth mouth;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) the prognosis for inmates who received care for meth mouth; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) the financial impact of meth mouth on State and local corrections budgets; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) to support other activities deemed appropriate by the Assistant Attorney General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Matching Requirement- The Federal share of a grant received under this section may not exceed 50 percent of the total costs of the activity funded by such grant.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Coordination of Activities- The Assistant Attorney General may enter into contracts or agreements with other Federal agencies, including interagency agreements to delegate authority for the execution of grants and for such other activities as may be necessary to carry out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Meth Mouth Defined- For purposes of this section, the term `meth mouth' means a distinct and often severe pattern of oral decay that is commonly associated with methamphetamine use.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2011. Amounts authorized for appropriation under this subsection are in addition to any other amounts authorized for appropriation for such purpose.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. GRANTS FOR DENTAL CARE OFFENDER REENTRY PROJECTS.

Part FF of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797w et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 2978. GRANTS FOR DENTAL CARE OFFENDER REENTRY PROJECTS.

`(a) Grant Authorization- The Attorney General shall make grants to State, local, territorial, and tribal units of government to identify, eliminate, and report on the degree to which poor oral health undermines or otherwise impedes an inmate's successful transition to a stable, productive, and law-abiding life following his or her release from jail or prison.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Reentry Demonstration Projects Permitted- In carrying out subsection (a), the Attorney General is authorized to make grants to entities described in such subsection to establish adult and juvenile offender reentry demonstration projects for the purpose of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) developing and implementing dental treatment programs at correctional and detention facilities in which inmates are incarcerated for a period of time to permit or require emergency dental care;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) evaluating the degree to which an inmate's presentable oral condition at the time of his or her release facilities the transition of such an inmate to stable, productive, and law-abiding life;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) promoting good oral hygiene among inmates and encouraging inmates to obtain regular dental check-ups after their release;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) monitoring an inmate's compliance with post-release treatment instructions and oral hygiene protocols; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) supporting other activities deemed appropriate by the Attorney General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2011.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink