Lincoln Journal Star reports nine mentally ill defendants in Lancaster County jail awaiting regional center beds
The Lincoln Journal Star reported that people found incompetent to stand trial were spending weeks to months in the Lancaster County jail because no bed was open at the Lincoln Regional Center. Nine such people were in the jail in one week, held from a few days to more than 90 days. The jail director said the facility is a costly and poor setting for people with serious mental illness, who often refuse medication that jail staff cannot compel.
Of 19 people with competency orders in county custody at the end of July, seven were in jail and 12 had reached the regional center after waiting an average of 68 days. The county public defender said that earlier in his career defendants went to the regional center the same day, and state officials said a new civil-commitment unit was planned for early 2018. The article notes discussions about allowing outpatient restoration for people out on bail.
Source: Mentally ill waiting months in jail for beds at regional center — Lincoln Journal Star, by Nancy Hicks
← Back to the map