Washington creates 'forensic navigator' role to speed competency cases
Washington enacted SB 5444, its first major legislative response to the Trueblood litigation. The law created a new "forensic navigator" role to connect people found incompetent to diversion programs and outpatient restoration, expanded the range of charges eligible for diversion, and let courts favor outpatient restoration over hospital admission where appropriate.
The bill also allowed dismissal of some misdemeanor charges with referral to civil treatment rather than continued jail-based restoration — an early step toward the broader diversion push that would continue in later legislative sessions.
Source: Trueblood bill, SB 5444, signed by Governor — Disability Rights Washington
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