Connecticut Involuntary Commitment (Department of Public Health)
| Multi Request | Connecticut Involuntary Commitment |
| Submitted | Oct. 26, 2020 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: HIJ Action Lab
To Whom It May Concern:
The Health in Justice Action Lab at Northeastern University is interested in Connecticut’s involuntary commitment programs under Conn. Gen. Stat. §17a-684. Specifically, we are looking for data concerning individuals civilly committed for substance use and addiction treatment, the programmatic offerings for those individuals, and Connecticut’s response to COVID-19 in its civil commitment system.
In order to permit the public to understand how the state of Connecticut is administering involuntary commitment, the outcomes of that program, and the impact on Connecticut’s public health, the Health in Justice Action Lab is making this request pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-210 for the following records:
1. State-wide volume. Any record showing the number of people who were civilly committed for substance use and addiction in each year since 2015 to the latest available.
2. Demographic information. Any and all records reflecting de-identified demographic summary statistics, including (but not necessarily limited to) race, gender, age, and pregnancy status, pertaining to individuals who have been civilly committed for substance use and addiction, from 2015 to latest available.
3. Facility information. Summary statistics, reports, or relevant documentation detailing facilities that are used to house people civilly commitment for substance use and addiction, including the following information:
a) Summary of the number of individuals committed to each individual facility for substance use in each year since 2015, to latest available.
b) For each facility housing people civilly committed for substance use, summary of the number of individuals also being held on criminal charges in those same facilities
c) Which facilities employ or contract health care providers licensed to prescribe methadone and/or buprenorphine.
d) Number of individuals each facility is licensed to house.
e) State agency managing each facility housing people civilly committed for substance use disorder.
f) Any and all documentation noting the number of non-fatal and fatal overdose incidents within each facility housing people civilly committed for substance use disorder in each year since 2015.
4. Financial information. Summary statistics, reports, or relevant documentation regarding government resources or insurance funds that are used to pay for civil commitment for substance use/addiction in each year since 2015.
5. Re-entry planning. Any and all documentation regarding the re-entry planning process for people discharged from civil commitment for substance use disorder, including:
a) Overdose education and naloxone distribution
b) Linkage to treatment in the community
c) Linkage to housing in the community
d) Insurance assistance
e) Any other support or health services
6. External overdose data. Any and all documentation noting the number of overdose incidents of patients within 1 year of re-entry from civil commitment for substance use disorder/addiction in each year since 2015.
Because this request involves a matter of public concern and because it is made on behalf of a nonprofit organization, we ask that you waive any fees. If you decide not to waive fees, we request that you permit us to examine, at our election, the responsive documents before deciding which portions to transmit. We prefer the documents in electronic format.
Should you determine that some portion of the documents requested are exempt from disclosure, please release any reasonably segregable portions that are not exempt. In addition, please note the applicable statutory exemption and explain why it applies to the redacted portions. As you know, a custodian of public records shall comply with a request within 4 business days, as the statute requires days after receipt.
Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Louis Miyara
Health in Justice Action Lab
Northeastern University
From: Department of Public Health
October 29, 2020
Dear Mr. Miyara,
The Department of Public Health (the “Department”) acknowledges receipt of your request under the Freedom of Information Act, dated October 27, 2020, for data concerning individuals civilly committed for substance use and addiction treatment, the programmatic offerings for those individuals, and Connecticut’s response to COVID-19 in its civil commitment system.
In order to permit the public to understand how the state of Connecticut is administering involuntary commitment, the outcomes of that program, and the impact on Connecticut’s public health, the Health in Justice Action Lab is making this request pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. §1-210 for the following records:
1. State-wide volume. Any record showing the number of people who were civilly committed for substance use and addiction in each year since 2015 to the latest available.
2. Demographic information. Any and all records reflecting de-identified demographic summary statistics, including (but not necessarily limited to) race, gender, age, and pregnancy status, pertaining to individuals who have been civilly committed for substance use and addiction, from 2015 to latest available.
3. Facility information. Summary statistics, reports, or relevant documentation detailing facilities that are used to house people civilly commitment for substance use and addiction, including the following information:
a) Summary of the number of individuals committed to each individual facility for substance use in each year since 2015, to latest available.
b) For each facility housing people civilly committed for substance use, summary of the number of individuals also being held on criminal charges in those same facilities
c) Which facilities employ or contract health care providers licensed to prescribe methadone and/or buprenorphine.
d) Number of individuals each facility is licensed to house.
e) State agency managing each facility housing people civilly committed for substance use disorder.
f) Any and all documentation noting the number of non-fatal and fatal overdose incidents within each facility housing people civilly committed for substance use disorder in each year since 2015.
4. Financial information. Summary statistics, reports, or relevant documentation regarding government resources or insurance funds that are used to pay for civil commitment for substance use/addiction in each year since 2015.
5. Re-entry planning. Any and all documentation regarding the re-entry planning process for people discharged from civil commitment for substance use disorder, including:
a) Overdose education and naloxone distribution
b) Linkage to treatment in the community
c) Linkage to housing in the community
d) Insurance assistance
e) Any other support or health services
6. External overdose data. Any and all documentation noting the number of overdose incidents of patients within 1 year of re-entry from civil commitment for substance use disorder/addiction in each year since 2015.
(“the request”).
Due to the current circumstances of COVID-19, we appreciate your patience in responding to your request. In the meantime, if I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at (860) 509-7270<tel:(860)%20509-7270>.
Sincerely,
Christopher Stan, MPA, RS
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Office of Communications
410 Capitol Avenue, MS 13CMN
Hartford, CT 06134
Ph: 860.509.7133
Christopher.stan@ct.gov<mailto:Christopher.stan@ct.gov>
[cid:image001.png@01D6ADE8.BFC4EC20][cid:image002.png@01D6ADE8.BFC4EC20]
www.ct.gov/dph<http://www.ct.gov/dph>
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Connecticut Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 26, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Public Health
Good morning,
This request should go to DMHAS. See attached letter.
Dafna
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FW: Connecticut Freedom of Information Act Request: Connecticut Involuntary Commitment (Department of Public Health)
From: Department of Public Health
December 4, 2020
Dear Mr. Miyara,
The Department's Facility Licensing and Investigations Section (FLIS) and the Community, Family Health, and Prevention Section have reviewed their files for information relating to your request. Based upon that file search, no responsive documents to your request were identified. The Department suggests that you contact Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) directly.
The DMHAS website is https://portal.ct.gov/dmhas
This completes the Department's response to your request. I hope that this information is of assistance to you.
Please contact me directly at (860) 509-7270 if you have any questions or require any further information.
Sincerely,
Christopher Stan, MPA, RS
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Office of Communications
410 Capitol Avenue, MS 13CMN
Hartford, CT 06134
Ph: 860.509.7133
Christopher.stan@ct.gov<mailto:Christopher.stan@ct.gov>
[cid:image001.png@01D6CA57.806E0DF0][cid:image002.png@01D6CA57.806E0DF0]
www.ct.gov/dph<http://www.ct.gov/dph>
Files
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11/13/2020
FW: Connecticut Freedom of Information Act Request: Connecticut Involuntary Commitment (Department of Public Health)
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