OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee has signed into law a bill designed to provide timely competency services to mentally ill defendants.
A federal judge recently ordered the state to provide competency evaluations and services to restore competency within seven days of a judge’s order.
The federal case was filed by defendants who had spent months in jails waiting for those services. The waitlists were caused by a lack of bed-space at the state’s forensic hospitals.
Senate Bill 5177 sets up a system that allows the state to conduct restoration services in other facilities besides those overcrowded hospitals, including the county jails.
Inslee signed the bill Wednesday and said now that they have a policy in place, he’s urging lawmakers to provide adequate funding to implement the plan.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.