SB 6295, sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra (D–Redmond), creates a path to recovery for high users of behavioral health crisis and criminal justice systems. The bill requires the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to provide additional resources to people discharged from involuntary commitment at a psychiatric facility after dismissal of a criminal case based on competency grounds. These supplemental services would be geared towards keeping that individual out of the cycle of criminal justice involvement. The bill also would require local behavioral health administrative services organizations (BH-ASOs) to refer or provide wraparound services in the community for people with a history of involvement with the forensic psychiatric system.
A top priority for AWC this session is additional resources in our communities for behavioral health. Check out our fact sheet. This bill would help address individuals in our communities that routinely commit crimes and cycle through the state forensic psychiatric system to hopefully provide better resources for those individuals to prevent future criminal justice system involvement.