Development is ramping up at a brand new state psychiatric hospital as Washington works to fulfill continued demand for remedy of individuals accused of crimes.
The state broke floor in October on the brand new 350-bed facility at Western State Hospital in Pierce County. Work started in December, however picked up final month and passersby will begin to see the constructing develop in June, stated state Division of Social and Well being Companies spokesperson Jessica Nelson.
For years, the Division of Social and Well being Companies has been below court docket oversight to enhance unconstitutionally lengthy wait occasions for psychological well being remedy and evaluations for legal defendants who’re incompetent to face trial. The brand new hospital is vital to complying with a court-ordered settlement within the case referred to as Trueblood.
Washington is required to conduct an analysis inside 14 days and supply inpatient competency restoration remedy inside seven days. The state has lengthy struggled to fulfill these tips and has paid lots of of tens of millions in fines in consequence.
On the groundbreaking for the brand new hospital in October, then-Gov. Jay Inslee famous the rise in want for these providers over the previous few years.
“This exponential growth was not sustainable unless we really put pedal to the metal on our building programs with what we’re doing today,” Inslee stated. “So we have invested tremendous resources to respond to this tremendous challenge.”
In February, the newest month for which complete state information is obtainable, the common wait time for a jail-based analysis was about 11 days. Inpatient evaluations took 5 to 6 days. Admissions for remedy took practically seven days at Japanese State Hospital, close to Spokane, and fewer than six days at Western State. In years previous, this might take over a yr.
The brand new Western State Hospital would be the newest addition to the state’s mattress capability.
In 2023, the state acquired and opened a psychiatric hospital in Tukwila for sufferers below civil commitments, releasing up area for legal defendants at Western State.
Final yr, the state added one other 86 beds at Japanese and Western State hospitals.
Of their capital price range handed final weekend, state lawmakers included $282 million for the ultimate section of development on the new hospital. The price range now sits on Gov. Bob Ferguson’s desk.
The hospital is aiming to assist shift the main focus at Western State extra towards individuals entangled within the legal justice system who want remedy and away from civil sufferers. Beneath that system, civil commitments would switch to community-based amenities to get assist.
Development is predicted to be accomplished between 2027 and 2029.
