Board approves contract for forensic monitoring of inmates

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio Inc. will provide services for Mahoning County jail inmates.

The Mahoning County Health and Recovery Board on Monday approved a $17,028 contract for the Forensic Psychiatric Center in Austintown to conduct forensic monitoring of about 12 to 15 individuals on conditional release.

The costs include staff’s salary, time and travel to incorporate Mahoning County as the center already operates in Ashtabula, Columbiana and Trumbull counties. The costs are based on last year’s monitoring budget.

Monitoring would include face-to-face contact with those acquitted by verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity and community providers, completing community risk assessments, writing reports and sample journal entries, various treatment-team meetings, hearings and phone consultations from case managers to court personnel.

The monitoring would also include a two-year, continued-commitment evaluations that are completed by the center’s psychologist.

Other highlights from the board meeting include Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine hosting a planning meeting to reduce drug abuse in Mahoning County. It will take place at the Newport Branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County from 1 to 3:30 p.m. May 28.

The next board meeting will take place at 5 p.m. June 22.