News last Friday that the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit reversed the judgement that effectively ended a landmark overhaul of mental health care for Illinois prison inmates opens the door to a brighter future for those suffering from serious mental illness behind bars.  At least 12,000 men and women are part of that group.
The new ruling means that the case first filed in 2007 by inmate Ashoor Rasho is sent back to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Peoria where District Court Judge Michael Mihm—the judge who oversaw the litigation that lead to a 2016 agreement—will decide several issues, including whether the state has fulfilled its agreement to solve the critical issues outlined in the lawsuit.
Harold Hirshman, one of the attorneys for inmates, told me Friday, “this is a good opinion. We are entitled to the result.”
In a statement on what should come next for inmate mental health care, Hirshman recently suggested that the state adopt a more creative approach to providing care that can make a life altering difference for people. The state, he noted, is at a crossroads since the long-term agreement with Wexford Health Sources ended without renewal. Those suggestions should be considered as the Illinois Department of Corrections navigates a new path forward for mental health care.
A new plan could encompass mental and physical health, Hirshman said Friday, to address the well-documented deficiencies in both areas.
It has been two years since Mihm ruled that he lacked jurisdiction over Rasho.  Ending the agreement that called for increased levels of staffing and care has diminished all areas of care, according to reports from attorneys for inmates.
Here’s a link to the decision by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals: Rasho 7th Circuit ruling