Sec. 17a-681. (Formerly Sec. 19a-126a). Regulations re treatment programs and facilities. Standards. Cooperation with Commissioner of Correction. Transfer of persons accused or convicted of nonviolent
Sec. 17a-681. (Formerly Sec. 19a-126a). Regulations re treatment programs
and facilities. Standards. Cooperation with Commissioner of Correction. Transfer
of persons accused or convicted of nonviolent crimes. (a) The Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services shall adopt and may amend and repeal regulations, pursuant to chapter 54, for acceptance of persons into the treatment programs and facilities
operated or funded by the department, considering available treatment resources and
facilities, for the purpose of early and effective treatment of alcohol-dependent persons,
drug-dependent persons and intoxicated persons. In establishing the regulations the
department shall be guided by the following standards:
(1) If possible a patient shall be treated on a voluntary rather than an involuntary
basis;
(2) A patient shall be initially assigned or transferred to outpatient or intermediate
treatment, unless he is found to require inpatient treatment;
(3) A person shall not be denied treatment solely because he has withdrawn from
treatment against medical advice on a prior occasion or because he has relapsed after
earlier treatment;
(4) An individualized treatment plan shall be prepared and maintained on a current
basis for each patient; and
(5) Provision shall be made for a continuum of coordinated treatment services, so
that a person who leaves a facility or a form of treatment will have available and utilize
other appropriate treatment.
(b) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Commissioner of Correction shall cooperate in establishing treatment and rehabilitation programs for alcohol-dependent and drug-dependent persons confined in correctional institutions. Persons convicted of nonviolent crimes or confined in lieu of bond on nonviolent
charges may be transferred by the Commissioner of Correction to the commissioner for
treatment and rehabilitation upon agreement of the commissioner.
(P.A. 74-280, S. 9, 25; P.A. 75-569, S. 4; P.A. 77-544, S. 9, 16; P.A. 86-371, S. 3, 45; P.A. 90-209, S. 3; P.A. 93-381,
S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 95-257, S. 5, 58.)
History: P.A. 75-569 added Subsec. (b) re cooperation between commissioner of mental health and commissioner of
correction; P.A. 77-544 included treatment of drug-dependent persons; P.A. 86-371 substituted references to the executive
director and the commission for references to the commissioner and the department of mental health; P.A. 90-209 substituted
"alcohol-dependent persons" for "alcoholics" and in Subsec. (a) added that the regulations concern acceptance of persons
into facilities operated or funded by the commission; Sec. 17-155s transferred to Sec. 17a-623 in 1991; P.A. 93-381 and
93-435 replaced Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission and executive director with department and commissioner
of public health and addiction services, respectively, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17a-623 transferred to Sec. 19a-126a in
1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner
and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; Sec. 19a-126a transferred to Sec. 17a-681 in 1997.