News Release Listing
Contact: Thomas Shapley, DSHS, 360-902-8007,
thomas.shapley@dshs.wa.gov
Contact: Chad Lewis, DOC, 360-725-8817 ,
chad.lewis@doc.wa.gov
December 05, 2012
Western State Hospital patient transferred to DOC facility
Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams has directed the transfer of a Western State Hospital patient to a secure facility operated by the Department of Corrections.
When a person has been committed to the custody of DSHS for treatment after being found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) and that patient presents an unreasonable safety risk in a state hospital setting, state law (RCW 10.77.091) allows the DSHS Secretary to place the patient in a secure facility operated by the DOC.
Secretary Arnold-Williams has made that determination in the case of one Western State Hospital patient and the transfer is taking place today. Privacy laws preclude DSHS from publicly disclosing the patient’s name.
"In order to protect the safety of staff, patients and the public," Arnold-Williams said, "I had no choice but to ask DOC Secretary Bernie Warner to temporarily house this NGRI patient as a boarder in one of the secure Department of Corrections facilities."
The patient remains in the legal custody of DSHS, which is ensuring that the patient continues to receive appropriate and individualized treatment under a memorandum of understanding between the two Departments. The continuation of this patient’s status as a boarder with the DOC will be jointly reviewed by both Departments within 90 days.
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DSHS does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, veteran’s status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.
