Forensic Mental Health Services
Li-Wen Lee, MD, Associate Commissioner, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic mental health services are overseen by the Division of Forensic Services within the Office of Mental Health (OMH). Mental health services for justice-involved individuals are part of system of care that includes:
- three accredited secure forensic psychiatric centers and one regional forensic unit
- prison-based mental health satellite units
- residential programs located within prison facilities
- secure treatment and rehabilitation facilities for the care and treatment of individuals confined under the sex offender civil management initiative
- community-based training and technical assistance services for local governmental units, including Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and diversion services
Our partners
- NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)
- NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
- Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (OPCA)
- Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors
Populations Served
- Defendants found not responsible for criminal conduct due to mental disease or defect pursuant to CPL § 330.20.
- Felony defendants found incompetent to stand trial pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) § 730.
- Pre-trial detainees in local correctional facilities in need of inpatient care pursuant to Correction Laws (CL) § 508.
- Inmates sentenced to State and local correctional facilities in need of inpatient care pursuant to CL § 402.
- Civil patients transferred to a forensic facility pursuant to New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR), Title 14, Section 57.2
- Individuals committed to the Secure Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (STARC) , pursuant to New York Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Art. 10
- Individuals court ordered to Strict and Intensive Supervision and Treatment (SIST) in the community, pursuant to New York MHL Art. 10
Forensic Facilities
| NYS Forensic Facility | Admission Types |
| Central New York Psychiatric Center (PC) and Northeast Regional Forensic Unit | CL 402; CL 508; CPL 730 |
| Kirby Forensic PC | CPL 330 and 730; Part 57 |
| Mid-Hudson Forensic PC | CPL 330 and 730; CL 508; Part 57 |
| Rochester Regional Forensic Unit | CPL 330 and 730; CL 508; Part 57 |
| Secure Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (STARC) - Oakview | New York Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Art. 10 |
| Secure Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (STARC) - Bridgeview | MHL Art. 10 |
CNYPC’s Corrections Based Components maintains a caseload of approximately 10,000. There are 29 satellite and mental health units and 1000+ mental health beds across mental health staffed prison programs.
Sex Offender Management and Treatment Act (SOMTA) Annual Reports
Mental Hygiene Law §10.10(i) requires our Commissioner to submit a report on the implementation of Article 10 to the Governor and Legislature.
“Such report shall include, but not be limited to, the census of each existing treatment facility, the number of persons reviewed by the case review teams for proceedings under this article, the number of persons committed pursuant to this article, their crimes of conviction, and projected future capacity needs.”