LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – When a court questions whether a person accused of a crime is mentally fit to stand trial, they’re referred for a mental evaluation. In Arkansas, those evaluations take place at the state hospital, but the wait for a bed can take months or even years.
State Senator Missy Irvin and many other legislators in the Senate and House Public Health Committee took a tour of a new facility within the Arkansas State Hospital.
“I’ve gotten that call from the Searcy County sheriff saying, ‘Hey, I’ve had this man in my county jail for two years waiting for a bed at the state hospital to get a mental health evaluation just to see if he can proceed through trial,’” Irvin said…