The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is expanding its efforts to help inmates dealing with mental illness.
According to the AP and the Nevada Independent, Nevada has been hit with more than $1 million in fines for delays in mental health care in the last year.
WCSO has worked with NaphCare, a correctional healthcare company, since September 2024 with its THRIVE Jail-Based Treatment Program.
The program now adds a new word to its title, competency, to become Jail-Based Competency Treatment.
It's all thanks to Assembly Bill 467, which passed into law after the 2025 Nevada Legislative Session.
"Before the law passed, competency or restoration treatment could only be provided in the state hospital," said Jenny Dutil, Program Director, NaphCare. "So, although we were able to provide treatment in the jail setting, we couldn't address any competency or restoration issues."
Dutil says before this program, hospitals like Lake's Crossing Center saw barely any open beds, leaving patients to suffer.
"You run the risk of them becoming sicker, which means that their treatment is going to take longer," she said. "You run the risk of unsafe behaviors taking place because of that. Severe mental illness is increasing."
This is the first program of its kind in Nevada.
The jail holds 30 beds for patients appointed by the courts for the program.
With everything now able to get done in the jail and being a one-stop shop, the Sergeant for the Washoe County Mental Health Unit believes it allows for better rapport with the patients.
"They get that treatment so much faster, and it's in a familiar environment," said Sgt. Rena Aldrich. "We have that specialized team of deputies. We have a special team of nurses, medical staff, and getting to know familiar faces with this mental health population is so important."Â
The agencies are hoping that this will reduce stay times and help prevent those with mental health issues from returning to jail.
