Even with more lenient guidelines now in place, state officials are still struggling to move individual inmates with mental health issues out of the Sangamon County Jail in a timely fashion.
State law was recently changed to give the Illinois Department of Human Services 60 days – instead of the previous 20-day limit – to move inmates to an appropriate psychiatric setting.
Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell says the county is currently housing 11 inmates who should be transferred to a mental health facility, including two that have been there longer than the 60-day limit, and two more who will reach that limit this week.
The 60-day limit is not firm and can be extended if the state says it does not have beds available.
