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Warden: population down but serious mental‑illness share has climbed to 73%
Summary
Warden Barnes told the oversight board the facility population fell month‑over‑month to 916, but the proportion of incarcerated people with serious mental illness rose to 73 percent, creating service and custody challenges that staff continue to monitor.
Warden Barnes reported that as of the prior morning George W. Hill had 916 incarcerated persons, a decrease of 34 from the previous month, and that the weekender program currently has seven participants (down from 11). “Our total population has been steadily dropping each month,” Barnes said, noting corresponding declines in some medication counts but adding that people with serious mental illnesses now make up a growing share of custody needs.
Barnes told the board that the percentage of incarcerated persons identified with serious mental illness has increased to 73 percent from the mid‑50s in December. Board members asked whether the upward trend could be tied to the closure of a local hospital behavioral‑health unit; staff said Human Services is working to restore services and that the interplay of closures, policing and local treatment capacity likely contributes to the trend. The board requested follow‑up data to track age cohorts and service needs.
