California Sued Over Long Waits For Competency Restoration Beds For Defendants With Mental Illness, Developmental Disability

On July 29, 2015, the American Civil Liberty Union affiliates in California sued the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) over long waits for competency restoration beds for defendants with mental disabilities. The complaint was filed on behalf of five named individuals who are family members of criminal defendants found incompetent to stand trial. Although state law requires competency restoration to start within 35 days after a defendant is deemed incompetent to stand trial, the plaintiffs said many have waited up to a year. No trial date has been set.

Defendants deemed incompetent . . .