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Panel backed to study better data-sharing across corrections, parole and health systems, advocates say
Summary
Senators advanced a study-committee bill, SB 192, to examine cross-system coordination—information sharing, unique identifiers and real-time dashboards—to reduce duplicative costs and improve continuity of care for individuals cycling between correctional and health systems.
Senator Daryl Abbas introduced Senate Bill 192 to create a study committee to examine coordination and information sharing among corrections, parole and probation, and health agencies. The sponsor said gaps in information sharing can obscure critical needs such as untreated mental health conditions or substance use disorders and can impede early, coordinated care that might reduce recidivism and expensive court or incarceration costs.
Erin Thirbaldson of the Council of State Governments Justice Center testified in favor, describing best practices used nationally: unique justice-identification numbers to track individuals across systems, unified client-information systems to preserve continuity of care from incarceration to community reentry, integrated case management and real-time data dashboards for situational awareness. Thirbaldson cited analysis showing a small portion of justice-involved people account for a large share of system costs and urged legal-compliant data-sharing agreements that protect HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 privacy protections.
Thirbaldson said the proposed study committee could provide recommendations on identification systems, unified information systems, integrated case management and real-time dashboards to target services and track treatment outcomes and recidivism; she said the proposal aligns with New Hampshire’s reentry waiver implementation plan and national best practices.
The committee voted to establish the study committee and moved SB 192 out with an ought-to-pass recommendation; testimony in favor was unanimous. The committee’s action will create a formal process to gather stakeholders and develop recommendations on data integration, privacy-compliant information exchange and case-management approaches.
Ending: Proponents framed SB 192 as an evidence-informed step toward better cross-system coordination, improved reentry outcomes and reduced duplicative costs by enabling real-time, privacy-compliant information exchange between corrections, supervision and health agencies.
