Washington State Fined $100 Million for Failing to Give Mentally Ill People in Jails Adequate Services

Washington State Fined $100 Million for Failing to Give Mentally Ill People in Jails Adequate Services
A person places their hand on a window inside a jail in Tacoma, Washington, on Jan. 24, 2021. David Ryder/Getty Images
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A judge is ordering Washington state to pay more than $100 million in fines after finding that state officials failed to provide adequate mental health services to mentally ill people in jail.

The ruling stems from a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of people with mental health disabilities who were charged with crimes and ordered by a judge to have a competency evaluation. If found incompetent to face charges, the state must then provide services to restore their competency to stand for trial.

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