KGMI News
OLYMPIA, WASH. – A federal judge orders the state to pay $12 million in fines because jail prisoners aren’t assessed for mental competency fast enough.
Judge Marcia Pechman ordered state officials to get assessments done within 14 days of a suspect’s arrest, but the state hasn’t done that.
Doug Honig at the American Civil Liberties Union says about a third of those fines have been distributed to five different non-profit groups.
“The fines are based on the state not complying, repeatedly, with court orders. So we’d that they would comply with the court orders. That said, if the state’s being fined, we’re pleased to see that the money going to help people very much in need of help,” Honig says.
Meanwhile, fines against the state continue to mount.