LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge is ordering Nevada meet a promise made in January to provide treatment within seven days for mentally ill jail inmates needing pretrial competency evaluations.
U.S. District Judge Miranda Du warned Wednesday that she might appoint an independent monitor if the state doesn't comply with her order by the end of November.
State officials say they're trying to meet the goals.
They point to plans to open the 47-bed Stein Hospital treatment center in Las Vegas in mid-November to handle court-referred psychiatric patients.
The state has a backlog of inmates needing treatment, and one current facility, the 76-bed Lakes Crossing in Sparks.
The Clark County Public Defender's Office maintains the constitutional rights of inmates are violated when they're jailed with neither treatment nor a resolution to their case.
