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Tribal officials and various mental health advocates have been trying to find an alternative for nearly a decade. But the Fort Peck reservation is still badly lacking in both secure psychiatric facilities and qualified mental health workers.
Jailing people because of a mental health issue is illegal in Montana, but the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes has its own laws. One tribal policy allows law enforcement to put citizens who threaten or attempt suicide in jail or juvenile detention to prevent another attempt
An 11-year-old tribal policy allows law enforcement to put members who threaten or attempt suicide in jail or juvenile detention to prevent another attempt. And tribal leaders say that unless they can attract mental health workers to remote northeastern Montana, the jailings will likely continue.
Jailing people because of a mental health issue is illegal in Montana and every other state except New Hampshire.
Jailing people because of a mental health issue is illegal in Montana and every other state except New Hampshire.