Washington state has shorter waits for competency evaluations.

Following a decade‐long challenge involving long wait times for offenders with mental illness awaiting mental competency and evaluation hearings, Washington state health officials and advocates said they are pleased with the much‐needed improvements in decreased wait times for those hearings. Additionally, a new behavioral health facility is slated to open in 2025 in response to the increasing demand for people in jail waiting for competency services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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