M.S., et al, v. California Forensic Medical Group & California Department Of State Hospitals

On March 28, 2017, families of offenders with mental illness arrested in Ventura County sued the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) and California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG) over long waits for forensic competency evaluations and competency restoration. The plaintiffs alleged the DSH often delayed state hospital admission for more than 90 days after a judge had ordered competency evaluation for individuals deemed Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST). As a result, the individuals who were not convicted of a crime were incarcerated in Ventura County jails while waiting for an open state hospital bed. During this time, the county’s . . .