Patients must come to WSH by court order.
Civil Commitment (RCW 71.05) -- After a mental health professional evaluate a person with a mental illness, they have the authority to detain him/her to an evaluation and treatment center for up to 72 hours. If further detainment is needed, they will petition the court. The court will hold a hearing where a decision is made whether or not to admit the person to the state hospital. Patients do not come to WSH until after receiving a court order for treatment of their mental illness.
Criminal Commitment (RCW 10.77) – When a person has been arrested and suspected of crime, a judge can request a competency evaluation to determine if they are capable of assisting in their own defense. The evaluation can be done either in jail or at WSH. Sometimes a person needs treatment to become competent to stand trial. When this occurs, the person is admitted to WSH for a longer period of time. If they are found to be “non-restorable,” their criminal charges can be dropped and they can be civilly committed to the hospital. Other times, people are found not-guilty-by-reason of insanity. These patients can stay at WSH for up to the amount of time of what would have been a maximum sentence for their crime.
With various forms of treatment and medication, all patients at WSH are working towards recovery and eventually reintegrating into a productive life in their home community.