Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2025

The Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2025 would create a federal grant program to fund mental health screenings and referrals for corrections officers at eligible detention centers (federal, state, and local). It directs the Attorney General to establish the program within a short timeframe, to fund it through annual appropriations, and to require recipient entities to appoint a mental health liaison and to establish outreach teams that refer officers with indications of severe mental illness to local mental health providers. The bill also requires the Bureau of Prisons to implement a similar screening-and-referral program for its officers and to report a plan to an Advisory Board. An Advisory Board would oversee program implementation, evaluate performance, and promote best practices. The overarching aim is to identify severe mental illness among corrections staff, connect affected individuals to care, and, according to the act, improve safety, reduce crime, and enhance post-release outcomes. Funding is authorized through 2030 with a multi-year appropriation and a specified distribution: 90% of funds go to the grant program (split among BOP, states, and units of local government), with 5% for the Advisory Board’s evaluation activities and 5% for its technical assistance. The screening is designed to be brief (5–10 questions), confidential, and administered by trained staff; responses that indicate severe mental illness trigger referrals through an outreach team that includes mental health professionals and a designated liaison. The act also emphasizes protecting anonymity and aims to reduce barriers to self-reporting, including concerns about job loss or benefit consequences.