Mental Health Standards
Standards for Mental Health Services
NCCHC’s nationally respected standards set the benchmark for delivering constitutionally acceptable, high-quality mental health mental care in correctional institutions. The Mental Health Standards parallel the Standards for Health Services in Jails and Prisons in format and substance and likewise cover the general areas of governance and administration, health promotion and safety, personnel and training, ancillary health care services, patient care and treatment, specialized services, and medical-legal issues.
They are the foundation of NCCHC’s mental health services accreditation program and the CCHP-MH advanced exam for mental health professionals.
The newest Standards were published in September 2025. Learn more about the updates.
Accreditation and the CCHP-MH exam will require the new Standards starting April 1, 2026.
The new Standards are available in print and digital access.
Digital access is a single-user license that allows annotation, but does not permit printing or sharing.
