Felony Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST)
In 2021, the California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) and the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) convened an Incompetent to Stand Trial Solutions (IST) Workgroup (Workgroup) to identify actionable solutions to address the increasing number of individuals with serious mental illness who become justice-involved and deemed Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) on felony charges.
The purpose of the Workgroup was to identify solutions to advance alternatives to placement in DSH restoration of competency. CSAC along with several other stakeholders actively participated in the Workgroup. As required by Welfare and Institutions Code §4147 the IST Solutions Workgroup Report of Recommended Solutions was submitted to CalHHS and the Department of Finance on November 30, 2021.
The report released in early December describes: 1) the background of the increasing numbers of referrals of individuals committed as Incompetent to Stand Trial in California and across the nation, 2) an overview of the IST Solutions Workgroup and the process utilized to develop the recommended solutions, and 3) a census of recommendations provided by the members of IST Solutions Workgroup and stakeholders on actionable solutions that address the increasing number of individuals with serious mental illness who become justice-involved and deemed Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) on felony charges.