By Trina Agustin
Variety News Staff

THE Department of Corrections and Superior Court Judge Katherine Maraman are set to meet at noon today to discuss the process of removing inmates determined as having mental deficiency from a detention facility to a more suitable place like the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, according to Corrections director Robert Camacho.
“We are working with her in trying to figure out how we can assess the inmates if they have mental problems, and who can evaluate them. This is for the detainees coming in,” Camacho said.
He said as soon as inmates are evaluated by a doctor and are believed to have a mental deficiency, they should be placed in a mental health facility or in a facility that can handle their specific problems.
Today’s meeting would also allow DMHSA, the Superior Court and the Department of Corrections to finalize how they would handle inmates not found guilty on a count of insanity. The officials will also work to produce an agreement that states where the inmates are going to be placed and how they are going to be assessed.
“I am talking about people that are found not guilty on a count of insanity. So that is what we are working on in the memorandum and how we are supposed to work together in a collaborative effort,” Camacho added.
There are currently 10 inmates who are found not guilty on a count of insanity in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
“Temporarily, we are holding them at DOC until DMHSA can find a place for them. Essentially, we are not supposed to be taking them for a long term; they should be in an area separate from the other inmates,” Camacho told Variety.
“They are in a separate unit; however, it would be more conducive for them to be in an area where you don’t see fence lines. They should be in a more therapeutic environment,” he added.
The agreement also aims to guide agencies how to handle inmates with mental deficiency.
“We are doing this temporarily until DMHSA can get their feet on the ground and dedicate a separate location for them (inmates with mental disability). I think they are working on that right now. As I understand, they are doing renovations there. We are just trying to help them out and provide some services at the same time,” Camacho said.