× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

State officials are preparing to write new standards for health care and mental health services in local jails.

The move arises from legislation sent to Gov. Ralph Northam this year during an increased focus on jails in Virginia following the 2015 death of Jamycheal Mitchell in the Hampton Roads Regional Jail. Mitchell, 24, had severe mental health problems and was not transferred from the jail to a state hospital as ordered by a judge.

The U.S. Department of Justice in December reported that medical and mental health care at the jail was so bad it violated inmates’ rights. A report by the Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office last month said the jail’s then-medical provider should have inquired earlier and more often about how to transfer Mitchell into a better environment for his deteriorating mental state.

The new standards would require at least one unannounced inspection of every local jail annually.

“Local and regional jails do not have a lot of minimum requirements for mental health care that they provide. So what these bills do is require that, so it’s consistent throughout the state,” said Bruce Cruser, executive director of Mental Health America of Virginia, an advocacy organization.