News Roundup

A lawsuit has been filed against the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and its secretary, asserting that the state’s lack of assessment and treatment services has resulted in people with severe mental disabilities suffering in county jails while waiting months for psychiatric services. The complaint—which can be accessed here—centers on those who sit in jail for months or years if there are concerns about their capacity to proceed in their criminal case. The lawsuit contends that they wait, on average, two months for an assessment to be completed and nearly five months for treatment at a state psychiatric hospital. While waiting, they remain in jail, sometimes longer than they would be if convicted. According to the lawsuit, out of the 453 state psychiatric beds that were available in 2023, only 82 beds were designated forensic beds, and there were 197 people on the forensic wait list for a treatment bed. The lawsuit asks a judge (1) to confirm that the state is violating the constitutional rights of people who are suspected or found to be mentally incapable of proceeding to trial and (2) to order the state to increase services and develop a remedial plan. Oklahoma man faces prison in Turks and Caicos. Ryan Watson faces up to 12 years in Turks and Caicos prison after customs officials found ammunition in his luggage. According to this story, he was travelling with his wife and friends to celebrate his 40th birthday when airport staff found a bag containing bullets [...]