Rep. Miller-Meeks Introduces Bill to Support Corrections Officers’ Mental Health
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) reintroduced the Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act, legislation aimed at providing critical mental health support for corrections officers across the country. The bill establishes a grant program through the Department of Justice to fund mental health screenings and referrals for officers in federal, state, and local facilities.
The bill honors the memory of Blake Schwarz, a dedicated corrections officer at the Thomson Correctional Center in the Quad Cities, who tragically died by suicide two years ago today. This legislation seeks to ensure no other officer faces the same struggles alone.
“I’ve met with Blake’s widow, visited the Thomson facilities he worked at, and spoken directly with officers who are carrying the weight of this job without the mental health support they need,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “Two years ago today, Blake’s life was cut short. His story is a painful reminder that we must do better. This bill takes action to get corrections officers the resources they deserve, break the stigma around mental health, and prevent future tragedies.”
Background:
Miller-Meeks first introduced this legislation as H.R. 9929 in the 118th Congress.
The Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act will provide funding for mental health screenings to help identify officers in crisis and ensure they receive proper care. It requires the hiring of mental health liaisons to connect officers with treatment and creates outreach teams to provide follow-up care when needed. By offering competitive grants to federal, state, and local detention facilities, the bill ensures that correctional officers have meaningful access to the mental health resources they deserve.
Corrections officers face some of the highest rates of PTSD, depression, and suicide among law enforcement professionals. Yet, mental health services for them remain severely underfunded. This bill takes a crucial step toward changing that by ensuring officers have access to the care they need before it’s too late.
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