Mental Health Incident Review Panels

Overview

New York State law requires the Office of Mental Health to convene quarterly Incident Review Panels. The panels review incidents involving persons with serious mental illness that occur in the community and:

• involve the use of deadly physical force (per subdivision eleven of section 10.00 of the penal law)
• result in serious physical injury (per subdivision ten of section 10.00 of the penal law)

Goals of Incident Review Panels include:

• Identifying problems or gaps in the mental health delivery systems.
• Making recommendations for corrective actions to improve the provision of mental health or related services.
• Improving the coordination, integration and accountability of care in the mental health system.
• Enhancing individual and public safety.

Every two years, a report is prepared for the governor and legislature. This report is available to the public.

Read The Mental Hygiene Law 31.37 for more information about Incident Review Panels.

Referrals

Referrals to the Incident Review Panel can be made by the following groups:

• local governmental units
• non-governmental organizations
• not-for-profit entities involved with the provision of mental health care
• persons that represent the interests of people with mental illness

How to Make a Referral

If you would like to submit a request to have an incident reviewed, please complete the referral form.

INCIDENT REFERRAL FORM

For an incident to be considered for review, it must meet the required criteria as set forth in the Mental Hygiene Law. OMH will review each referral and determine whether a panel review will be conducted.

We will respond to submissions within 30 calendar days. Not all incidents that meet criteria are accepted for review.

Contact

For questions, please email: IncidentReviewPanel@omh.ny.gov