The Oregon Court of Appeals has upheld a 2019 ruling that found the state psychiatric hospital in contempt for failing to quickly admit incarcerated persons found unfit to stand trial.
Since 2002, a federal order has required the Oregon State Hospital to admit patients within seven days in cases where a trial court has issued a commitment order, but the hospital âroutinely violatedâ that rule hundreds of times, according to an investigation by The Oregonian last year.
The appeals decision, published Wednesday, Dec. 30, has some in the legal establishment hoping it will spur lawmakers to act.
âIf the Legislature keeps ignoring these violations, and doesnât fully fund the state hospital, they are now opening themselves and state agencies up to a whole bunch of liabilities,â said defense attorney Amanda Thibeault. âMy real hope is that the Legislature cares enough about mentally ill people to properly fund the state hospital.â