OLYMPIA, Wash. – A federal judge has ordered Washington’s DSHS to pay more than $100 million in fines for failing to provide timely psychiatric services to mentally ill people.

The judge said on Friday, July 7th, that DSHS has been violating the constitutional rights of these people since 2015.

The ruling stems from a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of people with mental health disabilities who were charged with crimes and ordered by a judge to have a competency evaluation.

If found incompetent to face charges, the state must then provide services to restore their competency.

A lack of funding, personnel and beds in mental health facilities forced them to wait in jails for extended periods, which violated their rights, according to the lawsuit.

The state entered into a settlement agreement in 2018 and agreed to address the wait times, but they have only grown longer.