Treatment Facilities
Request to Reduce Patient Populations at ESH & WSH
April 3, 2020On April 2, DRW, the ACLU, WDA, and WACDL sent a letter to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), requesting that DSHS immediately undertake efforts to reduce the patient population at both WSH and ESH.DRW Releases a New Guide for NGRI Patients
March 20, 2020This guide provides information about the rights of patients who are at the adult psychiatric hospitals (Western State Hospital (WSH) and Eastern State Hospital (ESH)) run by the State of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) following a finding of “not guilty by reason of insanity” (NGRI). These individuals have been charged with a crime, but due to their mental illness are acquitted of their charges.Patient Rights at Western State Hospital And Eastern State Hospital, OHBH, and Maple Lane
March 19, 2020This booklet provides information about the rights of patients who are at Western State Hospital, Eastern State Hospital, Olympic Heritage Behavioral Health, and Maple Lane.2019 Trueblood Diversion Summit
March 10, 2020In September of 2019, stakeholders and service providers from around Washington came together to discuss the diversion of people with mental illness from the criminal legal system. These diversion service providers are funded through A.B. v. D.S.H.S. (Trueblood), a class action lawsuit that enforces a person’s constitutional right to timely competency evaluation and restoration services in a criminal case.Treatment Facilities Team Welcomes New Member
November 18, 2019The Treatment Facilities team is happy to welcome attorney Beth Leonard to our team!
Jane Doe et al v. Fairfax Behavioral Health
Attorneys from Hagens Berman and Disability Rights Washington filed a class-action complaint on behalf of a proposed class of hundreds of patients that were arbitrarily strip-searched and/or video recorded while receiving treatment for mental illness at Fairfax psychiatric facilities located in Kirkland, Everett and Monroe, WA.
DRW releases new report on Rainier School
May 21, 2019In Chaotic and Dangerous, Disability Rights Washington’s latest report on the state-run Rainier School, DRW has found that Washington continues to put people with developmental disabilities at serious risk of harm. The report also identifies systemic failures at the institution, making clear its problems are not caused by a few bad apples, but rather grow from organizational structures that require drastic transformation by Washington State.
Chaotic and Dangerous
May 2019
In Chaotic and Dangerous, Disability Rights Washington’s latest report on the state-run Rainier School, DRW has found that Washington continues to put people with developmental disabilities at serious risk of harm. The report also identifies systemic failures at the institution, making clear its problems are not caused by a few bad apples, but rather grow from organizational structures that require drastic transformation by Washington State.
DRW and Hagens Berman File Class Action Lawsuit Against Fairfax Behavioral Health
May 1, 2019Attorneys from Hagens Berman and Disability Rights Washington filed a class-action complaint on behalf of a proposed class of hundreds of patients that were arbitrarily strip-searched and/or video recorded while receiving treatment for mental illness at Fairfax psychiatric facilities located in Kirkland, Everett and Monroe, WA.Congratulations to DRW’s Todd Carlisle.
February 7, 2019Todd was a recipient of the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association’s 2018 Distinguished Service Award for his work as a co-founder the Pierce County Chapter of Lawyers Helping Hungry Children (LHHC).Treatment Facilities Team welcomes new member
December 20, 2018The Treatment Facilities Team is happy to welcome Elizabeth Jiménez to our team!Parties receive final approval for settlement agreement to reform Washington’s forensic mental health system
December 20, 2018On December 11, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Marsha J. Pechman approved a settlement agreement in the AB vs DSHS (Trueblood) class action lawsuit.
No More Excuses
January 2018
“No More Excuses: Shining a spotlight on abuse and neglect of people with developmental disabilities living at Rainier” sheds light on the pattern of unsafe conditions and lack of treatment occurring at Rainier, as identified in the state’s own surveys. While most of this information is publically available, it is apparent that the problems continue and meaningful change is needed. This report synthesizes a single year’s worth of information to call attention to the serious harm that continues to occur.