BOP Program Statement 5335.02 § 7

MENTAL HEALTH UNITS

a. Frequency of Programming. SMHU inmates will receive face-to-face mental health

contacts with a psychologist consistent with the type and frequency indicated by their care level

and treatment plan. The content of clinical contacts is driven by the goals of the inmate’s

treatment plan developed or revised upon SMHU admission.

b. Out-of-Cell Programming. Mental health providers will offer out of cell time for

programming at least twice a week in Secure PTUs and at least four days a week in Secure PTPs

in either group or individual therapy formats. Inmates on suicide watch will also be invited to

participate, unless precluded by specific safety concerns which will be documented in the EHR.

The suicide watch staff member or inmate companion will remain on duty while the inmate is in

treatment, but the provider may assume responsibility for documenting observations in the

suicide watch logbook, as detailed in the Program Statement Suicide Prevention Program, in

order to ensure confidentiality. Out-of-Cell programming is documented in the EHR.

c. In-Cell Programming. At least once each weekday mental health providers offer each

inmate on the SMHU in-cell resources or exercises to improve overall mental wellness and

address goals on the inmate’s treatment plan. These resources or exercises might include a

meditation video on the closed-circuit video system, a movie with a therapeutic purpose, a

writing assignment, or a mindfulness activity. In-cell programming will be documented in the

EHR as an Adjunctive Service – Self Help Group.

d. Unit Calendar. The Specialty Program Coordinator or designee of the Chief Psychologist

will create and maintain a weekly calendar of scheduled unit activities. This calendar will be

made available to inmates at the beginning of the week and a record of whether activities were

completed or canceled will be maintained. The calendar will also include programming offered

from Psychology Services, Chaplaincy Services, Education, and Recreation. Requirements and

retention guidance for records and information applicable to this program are available in the

Records and Information Disposition Schedule (RIDS) on the Bureau’s intranet site.

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e. Treatment Plan Updates. Psychologists/treatment specialists/psychology trainees are

responsible for updating the treatment plan to reflect any progress toward meeting criteria for

discharge to a less secure setting in accordance with the Program Statement Treatment and

Care of Inmates With Mental Illness.

f. Privacy. Ordinarily, mental health clinicians conduct individual therapy, clinical contacts,

and any assessments in a space that affords inmates privacy. Exceptions to private critical

contacts and mental health treatment contacts should be made in cases where the inmate is

behaving in an aggressive manner or when institutional safety and security considerations are

determined to require an exception, normally a situation for which emergency plans exist.

Contacts should be suspended if an inmate becomes aggressive, and the staff member is

concerned about their safety. The contact is reinitiated once additional security is in place or

when the inmate has regained control of their behavior. Exceptions should not be made due to

logistical issues concerning moving the inmate out of their cell or difficulty locating a private

space.

g. Treatment Contacts. If the inmate refuses to leave their cell for individual clinical contacts,

the mental health clinician documents this and the types of interventions used to elicit out-of-cell

program participation in the EHR in accordance with the Program Statement Treatment and

Care of Inmates With Mental Illness regarding frequency and type of care provided per their

assigned mental health care level. If an inmate refuses to attend group therapy, this is

documented in the EHR Group Session information for that day.

h. Token Economy. The Chief Psychologist assigns a staff member as the Token Economy

Program Coordinator to develop, oversee, and implement the SMHU Token Economy System

(e.g., token economy, tangible incentives, monetary incentives) to encourage inmate participation

in all programming offered in the SMHU. In Secure PTPs, typically the Token Economy

Program Coordinator is the Specialty Program Coordinator. These incentives are described in the

Program Statements Treatment and Care of Inmates With Mental Illness and First Step Act

Program Incentives.

i. Common Area Televisions. Ordinarily, Unit Management provides unit televisions for inmate

use. In some cases, Psychology Services will provide unit televisions for use during out-of-cell

activities as an incentivized activity.

j. Inmate Mental Health Companions. The Program Statement Treatment and Care of

Inmates With Mental Illness describes requirements for Mental Health Companions. At the

discretion of the Warden, SMHUs will use the Mental Health Companion Program.

k. Chief Psychologist Rounds. The Chief Psychologist or designee will make at least weekly

rounds in the SMHU. Rounds will be documented.

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l. Calculated Use of Force. Mental health/psychiatric providers will not ordinarily participate

as a team member in a calculated use of force situation beyond the role of confrontation

avoidance.