The Colorado Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health reports that there are approximately 230 individuals in Colorado who have been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial and are currently on a waitlist for inpatient treatment. This delay in competency restoration treatment means that individuals are being held in jail for charges they have not yet been found guilty of.
Director Leora Joseph noted that the current waitlist has significantly improved from the previous year, attributing it to the increase in outpatient restoration services. These services allow individuals to receive treatment in the community, which has been a crucial factor in reducing the waitlist.
Carrie Shahbahrami, executive director of A Special Place, has established a program that aims to support individuals in outpatient restoration, particularly those who are homeless or facing social barriers. They provide comprehensive resources, including housing and support services, to ensure that participants are able to attend appointments and comply with treatment.
The program, founded in August of this year, has already shown significant progress in helping individuals appear for court, reduce incarceration rates, and increase compliance with parole requirements. Participants have also shown improvements in managing their psychosis and engaging in healthy habits and activities.
Despite its success, A Special Place is facing challenges with obtaining consistent funding to sustain its operations. Shahbahrami hopes to expand the program to additional locations to meet the demand for outpatient restoration services among individuals awaiting competency restoration.
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