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Two Unions Representing Caregivers at the State's Psychiatric Hospitals Release Report Exposing the Degradation in Care for All Patients Due to Inappropriate Admission and Treatment Protocols for Forensic (Court Involved Patients)

Massachusetts Nurse Association (PRNewsFoto/Massachusetts Nurses Association) (PRNewsfoto/Massachusetts Nurses Association)

News provided by

Massachusetts Nurses Association

Oct 13, 2025, 10:30 ET

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 The Report will be shared with the Joint Committee for Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery at their hearing tomorrow (Oct. 14th) as legislators consider a bill that would address this crisis by establishing specialized units for the care of this complex population

Editor's Note:  This report may be of special interest to media who cover communities located near Worcester Recovery Center Hospital, Tewksbury State Hospital and Taunton State Hospital, the facilities most impacted by this issue.

BOSTON, Oct. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Nurses Association and SEIU 509, two unions representing RNs, healthcare professionals, social workers and mental health counselors at state-operated psychiatric hospitals today are releasing a White Paper that details the significantly negative impacts of a multi-year effort by the Commonwealth to increase the admission of forensic patients (patients who are court or corrections-involved) to these facilities without providing the staff, resources or protocols to ensure the safety of patients, staff or local communities.

Reporters can view the full report by following this link, or by contacting David Schildmeier at [email protected].

According to the report, "due to the closure of the state's corrections facilities, as well as a lack of beds and services for these types of patients, many more forensic and court involved patients are now being admitted to state operated facilities without proper planning, staff training, specialized physical environments or the number of appropriate staff and security protocols that are needed to ensure the safety of these patients, as well as the safety of other patient populations with behavioral health conditions and facility staff."

As a result of the state's failure to properly prepare and account for this change the staff make clear, "The current system of care for residents of the Commonwealth is suffering from the most acute behavioral health conditions – whether they are traditional continuing care clients or the increasing population of the forensic and court involved patients – is failing all concerned, including the dedicated staff who deliver their care."

Borrowing a term from an earlier study of the issue, the White Paper describes the situation as the "forensification' of the Commonwealth's behavioral health facilities, a "silent transformation" of the mission and work of these facilities, which is compromising the care of both patient populations.  It has also led to an unprecedented level of violence against staff and other patients, resulting in significant harm to staff, hundreds of lost days due to staff injuries, while also traumatizing already vulnerable patients who witness these recurring assaults. The inability to create secure environments has also resulted in many of these patients eloping from the facilities, thus endangering the surrounding communities, and even necessitating school lockdowns."

The report provides citations from a number of studies and reports to explain the unique needs and requirements for the care of forensic patients,  provides data and details as to how this crisis developed over the last 15 years, provides comments from staff on the impact on both patients and staff, and includes multiple reports of patient escapes and other incidents that jeopardized the safety of surrounding communities in Worcester, Tewksbury and Taunton

In releasing the paper, the unions make clear that immediate changes are required, stating, "As organizations representing the frontline caregivers at our state-operated behavioral health facilities, the MNA and SEIU 509 call on the state to do what it has failed to do over the last decade, which is to formally acknowledge the unique needs for the specialized care of the forensic population, while also acknowledging the need to restore a safe environment for the continuing care patients.  Under no circumstances should we accept the status quo, which mixes these populations to the detriment of all concerned." 

Finally, the report provides specific recommendations as to what is needed to address this crisis and  improve care for both forensic and non-forensic patients, including the passage of pending legislation, which will  be heard on Tuesday by the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. 

Legislative Hearing Details

What: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery will conduct a hybrid public hearing and among the bills to be considered will be H2228/S1408- An Act Providing Appropriate Care for Certain Populations sponsored by Rep David Robertson/Sen Robyn Kennedy.
When: Tuesday, October 14th from 1PM to 5PM
Where: Massachusetts State House, Boston – Hearing Room A2 (see legislature website for remote watching details: Hearing Details - Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

About Legislation to Provide Specialized Care for Forensic Patients

H2228/S1408- An Act providing appropriate care for certain populations recognizes that within the state mental health hospital system, it is necessary to admit certain patient populations to designated units to address their needs and the safety of other patients and staff. This bill would require that certain patient populations admitted to state hospitals to be first placed in a designated forensic unit. Such units would provide the appropriate staffing, care and environment for this patient population until such time as any redeterminations could be made.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association

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