22 counties sue Washington state over 'civil conversion' patients
Over half of the counties in Washington state filed a lawsuit against the Department of Social and Health Services. At issue is the state’s ability to provide mental health services for what are classified, “civil conversion patients.”
These are patients who are coming from jail but are not able to stand trial.
"They may come in through jails at first, but at some point, they're found not competent to stand trial," said Seattle Times mental health reporter Esmy Jimenez. "That means they can't really answer questions from the judge, they can't really work with their defense attorney."
The lawsuit is the latest in a years-long struggle to provide mental health care for people who interact with the criminal justice system.
Esmy Jimenez has been following the story. She spoke with Soundside about the lawsuit and how it relates to a recent federal ruling over the same issue.
Click the play button above to hear the full audio segment.
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Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington, and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
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Mike Davis
Reporter
Mike Davis is a reporter covering arts and culture. In the past, he's reported on news, politics, and sports for the South Seattle Emerald. Mike previously hosted a podcast where he discussed national politics and pop-culture.
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Hans Anderson
Producer, Soundside
Hans Anderson is a producer on KUOW’s Soundside, where he covers a diverse range of topics from conflicts over how to use busy streets to how the open spaces of the Palouse inspire modern musical compositions. He primarily produces segments about politics, arts and transportation.
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