Yolo County is launching a jail-based competency treatment program. The county will provide mental health services to those deemed incompetent enough to stand trial. The program's primary focus is to restore inmates served in this program to competency, so they can continue their criminal proceedings, while receiving mental health services and re-entry support. Under the program, inmates will be able to receive treatment soon after it is ordered by the court, rather than having to wait months in the jail for a bed to become available in the State Hospital system. The Yolo County Sheriff's Office says it will significantly reduce custody time.
Yolo County Sheriff Tom Lopez gave this comment in a news release about the program: "Our new Jail Based Competency Treatment program will allow inmates who have been determined to be incompetent to stand trial to begin receiving treatment soon after it is ordered by the court, rather than having to wait many months in our jail for a bed to become available in the State Hospital system. This program will reduce custody time and positively impact both the inmate and my staff."