What should a family member do first when their loved one with a mental illness has been arrested?

If we are talking about a situation where the person has already been booked into jail, the family member can call the jail and ask to speak with the jail’s medical staff. They will be able to take notes regarding their loved one’s mental illness and make sure both the medical staff and mental health professionals at the jail are aware. It’s always a good idea to provide them with the family member’s name and phone number in the event they have further questions.

What happens in jail when a loved one has medication and needs to take? 

If the inmate has their medication with them at the time of booking, medical will review the medication and then dispense them accordingly. If the inmate takes medication but did not have them at the time of booking, the prescription will be verified by the jail’s medical staff and then the medication will have to be ordered in before being dispensed. This can cause a lag time, so it’s always ideal that the person have their medication with them at booking, or have someone bring their prescriptions in for them. It is important to note that not all medications are eligible to be given in correctional facilities; however, most psychiatric medications are given.

Can a family member bring the medication to the jail for the jail to administer?

So long as the medication is a current prescription and written to the inmate, they can drop off the medications for them at the front lobby. They will secure them for the medical department to review, and dispense. It’s important to keep in mind these prescriptions need to be current and in original bottles.

Compass Health has a contract to provide behavioral care at the jail - can a loved one contact them to give information about the loved ones mental health condition?

It is always best to call the jail medical department because the medical and mental health contracts are negotiated on a scheduled basis, so it is not guaranteed to always be Compass. However, if you know the person’s mental health case manager you can contact them to let them know the person is incarcerated.

When does the sheriff's office or police take someone to the Whatcom County Triage Mental Health side, opposed to jail?

That is not a simple question and would be answered on a case-by-case situation. 

Whatcom County Sheriff Office
(360) 778-6600

Bellingham Police Department
(360) 778-8800

Ferndale Police Department
(360) 384-3390

Lynden Police Department
(360) 354-2828

Everson Police Department 
(360) 966-4212

Blaine Police Department
(360) 332-6769
​

Handling The Arrest Of A Family Member

The arrest of a family member or friend can be very upsetting.  Trying to figure out what to do and where to start can feel overwhelming.  Here are some steps to take to help your loved one through the situation.  
If you don't know which jail your loved one is being held in you can use the online inmate locator for Washington State -  https://www.doc.wa.gov/information/inmate-search/

Handling Medication

If your family member requires medication, they should inform the jail staff.  If they have not informed the jail staff, you should ask his psychiatrist to contact them.  Although there's no privacy law restricting a medical professional from sharing information with jail staff, some will refuse.  If that happens, your should make contact with your family member's doctor.  It is best to do this in writing and then follow up with a phone call.  This will ensure a written record of your request.  Your request should be to the point and include:
~ Your loved one's diagnosis
~The type of medication
~ Contact information for their doctor
​~Your contact information
~ Your Con

Going To Court

The arrest of a family member may mean he or she needs to appear in court.  Knowing what to expect can help you provide the most support for your loved one and hopefully lead to the best outcome.

1. Make contact with the attorney.  This can be hard as attorneys are often in court all day, so call early in the morning or during lunch.  If you can't reach an attorney call office and ask for email address.
   
2.  Attend the initial hearing.  Introduce yourself to the public defender.  Be brief, polite and thank them.  Let them know that you are happy to provide whatever information would be helpful to them.  
3. Ask the attorney to consider any jail diversion or pretrial release programs.

Remember that the public defender works for your loved one, not you.  You can ask your loved one to sign a release that allows the attorney to share information with you.  However, hethey may refuse and there is little the attorney can do.