The Department of Social and Health Services operates licensed behavioral health treatment centers where people involved with the justice system receive mental health services geared toward restoring competency to stand trial.
All people involved in the criminal court system have the constitutional right to assist in their own defense. For there to be a fair trial, a person charged with a crime must:
- Understand the charges against them.
- Be able to assist their attorney in their own defense.
If either or both abilities seems to be lacking and it appears that the person has a mental health condition, a judge may order a competency evaluation. This evaluation will inform the court about the person’s abilities to stand trial.
People ordered to receive competency restoration services are assessed through a screening process to determine which of our treatment centers best matches the person’s unique needs for mental health treatment and recovery.
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Visitation from Counsel
Attorneys can visit residents at the facilities, by phone or via virtual visitations.
For general, admissions or transport questions for specific individuals, please contact OFMHSwebsite@dshs.wa.gov.
Transporting Residents
State law gives the DSHS secretary the discretion for placement for competency restoration. See RCW 10.77.084(1)(b), 10.77.086(1)(a)(i) and 10.77.088(1)(a).
Transportation for patients coming from jails will be arranged by the sending county. Patients coming to the alternate site from a state psychiatric hospital will be transported by DSHS.
RCW 10.77.078 states that jails must transport a defendant to competency restoration sites within one day of an offer of admission and must provide a defendant's medical clearance to the state hospital admissions staff.
To make efficient use of the new facilities and place defendants in the most appropriate facility, DSHS requests that jails work with admissions staff in screening defendants for placement.
Competency Restoration Programs: Supplemental Curriculum Materials
The Breaking Barriers Competency Restoration Program is the competency restoration program implemented by BHA. The program has the following components:
- Admission assessment of the patient’s barriers to competency.
- Treatment planning that includes the patient’s barriers to competency.
- Treatment that addresses the patient’s barriers to competency. As part of this treatment, the BBCRP has a standardized manual for group education and treatment.
- Monitoring of the patient’s barriers to competency.
- Referral process to refer a patient prior to the term of their court order for a competency evaluation.
Steilacoom Unit Competency Restoration Program Residential Treatment Facility