Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2305

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-24: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-07-10T08:06:43Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2025 aims to address mental health challenges faced by corrections officers by providing federal funding for screenings and referrals to mental health services. It focuses on identifying severe mental illnesses (conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression that seriously impair daily life) among officers in prisons and jails to prevent issues like suicide.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program: The Attorney General must establish a program within 90 days of enactment to award grants to states and local governments. Grants support mental health screenings at eligible detention centers (federal, state, or local prisons/jails) and referrals to care providers.
• Applications require a project plan and assurance of hiring a mental health liaison to coordinate efforts.
• Eligible uses include developing a 5-10 question anonymous screening survey (based on federal employee assistance standards), technology and staff for administration, and creating outreach teams for referrals.
• The survey asks about symptoms, past treatments, medications, inpatient care, and residence; it must be administered by trained staff to all corrections officers (employees responsible for inmate custody).
• Outreach teams, led by a liaison, include local mental health professionals and detention center staff; they provide immediate referrals for further assessment, support, and reconnection to care if severe issues are flagged.
• Bureau of Prisons Program: Within 90 days, the Bureau must implement a similar screening and outreach program for its officers and submit an implementation plan to an advisory board.
• Advisory Board: Established by the Attorney General within 60 days, this board (with experts in mental health screenings, prison care, and program evaluation) oversees grants, monitors compliance, provides technical assistance, shares best practices via a working group, and develops anonymous self-reporting processes to protect officers' privacy and jobs.
• Funding: Authorizes $50-70 million annually from fiscal year 2026 to 2030. Distribution: 90% for grants and Bureau programs (20% federal, 20% states, 50% localities); 5% each for board evaluation and technical assistance.
• Definitions: Clarifies terms like "state" (includes territories), "locality" (cities/counties), "corrections officer," "severe mental illness," and "mental health care provider" (licensed professionals at nearby hospitals/clinics).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This act introduces new federal mandates and funding not previously specified in law for targeted mental health support for corrections officers. It builds on existing federal screening standards (e.g., Bureau of Prisons protocols) by requiring their adaptation for anonymous, routine use in state/local facilities and creating oversight mechanisms like the advisory board. No direct amendments to prior laws are mentioned, but it expands the Attorney General's role in mental health grants beyond general justice programs.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Bureau of Prisons, state/local detention centers, and the Department of Justice will need to allocate resources for screenings, staff hiring, and coordination, potentially improving officer retention and reducing turnover in high-stress roles. The advisory board adds administrative oversight.
• Citizens: Primarily benefits corrections officers by increasing access to confidential mental health care, which could lower suicide rates and enhance workplace safety. Indirectly supports public safety through healthier staff and better prison operations; may reduce recidivism via best-practice sharing on reentry programs.
• International Relations: No direct impact, as the act is domestic-focused on U.S. correctional systems.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Corrections Officers: Direct beneficiaries through screenings and referrals, with protections for anonymity to encourage participation without job risks.
• Federal, State, and Local Governments: Including the Bureau of Prisons, detention center administrators, and grant recipients responsible for implementation.
• Mental Health Providers and Centers: Local clinicians and facilities involved in outreach teams and referrals.
• Advisory Board and Experts: Appointed members from mental health, corrections, and evaluation fields who guide and monitor the programs.
• Incarcerated Individuals: Indirectly affected through potentially more stable staffing and shared reentry best practices.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Emphasizes privacy and anonymity in screenings to comply with health data protections (e.g., similar to HIPAA principles), reducing barriers like fear of job loss. Grants include enforcement for non-compliance, such as funding cuts.
• Constitutional: Supports equal protection by addressing mental health in public safety roles without discriminating by jurisdiction (federal/state/local). No apparent conflicts with free speech or due process, as self-reporting processes neutralize impediments.
• Political: Promotes bipartisan interest in first-responder mental health (named after a fallen officer), potentially setting a model for similar supports in law enforcement. Could influence budget debates on justice spending, with escalating authorizations signaling long-term commitment.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-24: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-03-24: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-24: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-24 — PDF (11 pages)