Georgia Launches ‘Operation New Hope’ To Reduce Forensic Waitlist Backlog

On October 25, 2024, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) announced plans to launch “Operation New Hope” at the Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah to help individuals transition from forensic commitments back into the community. The goal is to reduce the number of people waiting in local jails for competency restoration services at state psychiatric hospitals. As of October 18, more than 760 currently-jailed individuals were waiting to receive hospital-based court-ordered restoration services.

Operation New Hope will serve up to 30 individuals at a time. The program will include tailored therapeutic services that . . .