(a) Policy. The Departments of Correction and Health, with the approval of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services, shall develop procedures to provide for the prompt evaluation and appropriate referral of inmates whose behavior suggests that they are suffering from a mental or emotional disorder, as well as the immediate evaluation and treatment of those in need of emergency psychiatric care.
(b) Access.
(1) There is to be non-emergency access to mental health services. Inmates may refer themselves for preliminary evaluation, and they shall be seen by a member of mental health services staff as soon as possible but in no instance later than three working days after receipt of referral by mental health services staff. The Department of Correction shall ensure that notice of the request is received by mental health services staff within twenty-four hours.
(2) Inmates shall have twenty-four hour access to mental health services personnel for emergency psychiatric care and the management of acute psychiatric episodes:
(i) all inmates who report having been sexually assaulted shall be referred for emergency assessment;
(ii) inmates awaiting emergency evaluation are to be housed in a specially designated area with close staff supervision and sufficient security to protect inmates and staff;
(iii) the Departments of Correction and Health shall develop a written form for emergency evaluation referrals.
(3) Correction staff and medical services personnel are required to refer to mental health services those inmates in the general population who exhibit signs of mental or emotional disorders. A standard written procedure to include a description of the behavior upon which the referral is based shall be developed by the Departments of Health and Correction.
(4) The Department of Correction shall provide sufficient escort officers to ensure delivery of service in a manner that promotes the maximum efficiency of mental health services staff. The Department of Correction shall develop and implement procedures to provide that inmates requested for evaluation or follow-up be escorted to mental health services staff, or accounted for, the same day. In all cases where the inmate is still in custody, he or she shall be brought to mental health services staff within twenty-four hours.