A Pierce County judge ruled in favor of a lawsuit against the state's Department of Social and Health Service, ordering it to immediately evaluate patients with behavioral health conditions. The lawsuit also orders the department to provide sufficient community notice when patients are released from treatment. “Today’s ruling affirms the state's basic obligation to evaluate the behavioral health needs of people in the legal system who can not be tried because they lack the ability to aid in their own defense and to give them an opportunity for meaningful treatment. It does not, of course, solve the very real capacity problems in the behavioral health system born of long-term funding and workforce shortages,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “With today’s ruling, counties across Washington can move forward with greater clarity, working with the state and other jurisdictions on the funding and strategies to meet the needs of the people we all serve.” READ MORE: https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/pierce-county-judge-rules-lawsuit-department-of-social-and-health-services/281-4b9a8a7b-af26-4c6a-8a6d-306115dc3517