New Act Authorizes $50M+ for Corrections Officer Mental Health Screening and Outreach

This new legislation, officially titled the Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2025, sets up a major federal grant program aimed squarely at supporting the mental health of corrections officers at the state and local levels. The core idea is simple: fund mandatory, confidential mental health screenings for officers and establish dedicated teams to connect those who need help with care.

Starting in Fiscal Year 2026, the bill authorizes $50 million, with funding increasing annually to $70 million by 2030, to be managed by the Attorney General (SEC. 5). This money is broken down, with 90% going directly to the programs—split between the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for their own internal program, and grants for state and local detention centers (SEC. 5).

The Check-Up: What the Screening Actually Looks Like

If your local jail or state prison gets one of these grants, they have to implement a specific screening process. It must be a short survey—just 5 to 10 questions—based on established standards, designed to spot signs of "severe mental illness" like major depression or bipolar disorder (SEC. 2). Crucially, the bill mandates that this entire process must be anonymous and confidential, administered by a trained staff member.

For officers, this means a mandatory, routine check-in. The goal is to catch issues early, before job-related stress or trauma becomes a crisis. For example, a corrections officer struggling with shift work and the high-stress environment can get flagged for support without having to raise their hand, which can be a huge hurdle in a profession where showing vulnerability is often discouraged.

Building the Safety Net: Liaisons and Outreach Teams

Getting screened is only step one. The real work is in the follow-up, and the bill requires two key roles to make that happen. First, every grant recipient must hire a dedicated mental health liaison (SEC. 2). Think of them as the program manager, coordinating everything from the screenings to the care referrals. Second, they must create a specialized outreach team made up of mental health professionals and clinicians.

If an officer’s survey suggests they need help, this outreach team steps in to connect them with local care providers for assessment and support (SEC. 2). The funds can cover the salaries and overtime for the staff running this essential outreach, ensuring the program doesn't just identify problems but actually solves them.

Federal Prisons and the Watchdog Board

While the grant program targets state and local facilities, the bill also mandates that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) must establish its own internal survey and outreach program for federal corrections officers within 90 days of the law passing (SEC. 3). This ensures that federal employees get the same level of support.

Overseeing all of this is a new Advisory Board, appointed by the Attorney General (SEC. 4). This Board isn't just about paperwork; it acts as the program's quality control. It reviews state and BOP plans, offers technical assistance, and, significantly, has the power to demand changes or cut off funding if a grant recipient isn't following the rules (SEC. 4). This administrative muscle is meant to ensure accountability, but it also means state and local administrators will have a new layer of federal oversight and compliance to manage.

Furthermore, the Board is tasked with creating an anonymous reporting system for officers to report issues related to mental health assistance, specifically designed to remove the fear of job loss or retaliation (SEC. 4). This is a direct acknowledgment of the cultural barriers that often prevent officers from seeking help.