Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a federal grant and BOP program to provide routine mental health screening and referral for corrections officers. The bill targets short, anonymous screens and local outreach teams to connect officers who show signs of severe mental illness with mental health providers.
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- Corrections officers would be given an anonymous 5 to 10 question mental health screening that identifies severe conditions, asks about symptoms and past inpatient care or medications, and records place of residence for referrals.
- States and units of local government could receive grants to build the survey technology, hire staff and a mental health liaison, create outreach teams, and pay staff salaries or overtime to carry out screenings and referrals.
- The Bureau of Prisons would set up its own screening and outreach program for BOP officers and submit an implementation plan. An Advisory Board would evaluate and approve plans, provide technical help, monitor privacy and self-reporting protections, and share best practices.
*Would authorize annual appropriations of $50.0 million for FY2026, $55.0 million for FY2027, $60.0 million for FY2028, $65.0 million for FY2029, and $70.0 million for FY2030, increasing federal spending to fund grants, BOP activities, and advisory functions.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Five-year funding for officer mental health
If enacted, Congress would fund this program at $50 million in FY2026, $55 million in FY2027, $60 million in FY2028, $65 million in FY2029, and $70 million in FY2030. Each year, 90% would go to the grants and Bureau of Prisons: 20% to the Bureau of Prisons, 20% to State grants, and 50% to local grants. Five percent would fund Advisory Board evaluation work, and 5% would fund other Advisory Board activities.
Board to oversee officer mental health
Within 60 days of enactment, the Attorney General would set up an Advisory Board to run and monitor the program. The Board would approve State and local plans, check the Bureau of Prisons’ plan, and give technical help. It could order fixes or cut funds if grants do not meet program rules. The Board would also create a safe, anonymous self-reporting process and address fears of losing a job or benefits.
Grants for corrections officer mental health
Within 90 days of enactment, the Attorney General would start a grant program. States and local governments could get funds to run short, anonymous mental health surveys for corrections officers and to set up referral outreach teams. Money could pay for a 5–10 question survey based on standard models, needed tech, staff, and outreach team salary or overtime. Each grantee would hire a mental health liaison and notify the outreach team right away when a referral is needed. The bill would also define who counts as a corrections officer and which jails and prisons are eligible, which sets who can be screened and referred.
Mental health help for federal officers
Within 90 days of enactment, the Bureau of Prisons would run the same short mental health surveys for its corrections officers. It would keep an outreach team to refer officers to local mental health providers when needed. The Bureau of Prisons would send an implementation plan to the Advisory Board.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
IA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Sponsored 8/19/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov