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Mental Health System Involuntary Commitment Judicial Costs Study Proposed Scope & Objectives. Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee December 1, 2011 John Bowden, JLARC Staff. Involuntarily Commitment (Detention) for Evaluation and Treatment.
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Mental Health System Involuntary Commitment Judicial Costs StudyProposed Scope & Objectives Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee December 1, 2011 John Bowden, JLARC Staff
Involuntarily Commitment (Detention)for Evaluation and Treatment • An individual can be involuntarily committed (detained) in a mental health evaluation and treatment facility when: • Likelihood of serious harm to self or others • Gravely disabled due to mental disorder • Detained for 72 hours by county designated mental health professional for evaluation • Commitment beyond 72 hours requires court proceeding Involuntary Commitment Judicial Costs
Counties with Evaluation and Treatment Beds Incur Almost All of Judicial Costs Whatcom Skagit Snohomish Kitsap Spokane King Pierce Thurston Franklin Yakima Cowlitz Benton Clark Involuntary Commitment Judicial Costs
Most Involuntary Commitment Court Proceedings in 13 Counties • In 2010, there were more than 8,900* involuntary commitment hearings, all but 5 were held in 13 counties. • In SSB 5531 (2011), Legislature: • Recognized that hearings are often not in the county where person was originally detained; • Was concerned that some counties bear a disproportionate share of judicial costs; • Created process for counties to be reimbursed for judicial costs effective July 1, 2012; and • Directed JLARC to assess direct judicial costs. *Data from State Administrative Office of the Courts Involuntary Commitment Judicial Costs
Judicial Costs Differ in Each County Study addresses the following questions: • What are the estimated direct costs for judicial services provided in counties where more than 20 involuntary treatment civil commitment cases were filed in 2010? • What are the reasons for differences in civil commitment judicial costs among counties? • How can the estimated judicial costs be updated to reflect changes over time? Involuntary Commitment Judicial Costs
Next Steps and Contact Information Preliminary Report: May 2012 Proposed Final Report: June 2012 John Bowden 360-786-5298 John.Bowden@leg.wa.gov Tracey Elmore 360-786-5178 Tracey.Elmore@leg.wa.gov Eric Thomas 360-786-5182Eric.Thomas@leg.wa.gov www.jlarc.leg.wa.gov Involuntary Commitment Judicial Costs