Rethinking Competency to Stand Trial: A Complicated Road to Mental Health Treatment

The competency to stand trial process is designed to protect the rights of people who do not understand the charges against them and cannot assist in their defense. But this process has become overburdened and delayed, causing people to languish in jail while states contend with the high associated costs. We spoke with legal and mental health experts about why this issue is essential when mental health needs are climbing among Americans, and state finances are significantly strained. For more, see the Just and Well report.