News

Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative: 4th Annual Leadership Summit and Awards

The Council of State Governments Justice Center | June 21, 2024

Dr. Jennifer Piel was recognized with a Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award for her work educating criminal defense attorneys on reducing their clients’ risk of suicide and supporting women working in high-security correctional settings.

‘Lost Patients’ podcast Episode 5: Out of the hospital, into homelessness

The Seattle Times | April 9, 2024

Episode 5 of “Lost Patients,” the new podcast from The Seattle Times and KUOW, explores the helplessness many families feel as they watch a loved one struggle with mental health issues, substance use and homelessness. CMHPL Director Jennifer Piel, MD, JD, is quoted.

UW psychiatry resident awarded for presentation on attorneys and suicide prevention

CMHPL News | August 2, 2023

Dr. Joellyn Sheehy, a UW psychiatry resident, was recognized for her research on the role of criminal defense attorneys in suicide prevention, conducted with CMHPL Director Dr. Jennifer Piel.

Michigan judge weighs whether school shooter could ever leave prison

The New York Times | July 27, 2023

A Supreme Court ruling from 2012 established the sentencing parameters for juveniles convicted of homicide offenses. Now, a state judge must decide what that means for a Michigan school shooter. CMHPL Director Jennifer Piel, MD, JD, is quoted.

The puzzling rise of defendants too sick to stand trial in Washington

The Seattle Times | July 7, 2023

For the past decade, people in Washington jails have been increasingly referred to undergo a competency evaluation to determine whether they can legally stand trial. This has led to has led to severe backlogs at Washington jails while defendants can’t get a bed at a state psychiatric facility. Experts, including CMHPL Director Dr. Jennifer Piel, weigh in on this issue.

What actually happens in Washington when someone’s not competent to stand trial

The Seattle Times | July 7, 2023

In some cases, substance use or mental illness affect a person’s ability to stand trial because they are not able to understand court proceedings or aid their attorney in their defense. When this happens, it kickstarts a process known as competency evaluation and in some cases competency restoration.

AAMC Telehealth Equity Catalyst Awards

AAMC News | June 9, 2023

CMHPL Director Dr. Jennifer Piel received an award to study the feasibility of an academic-state partnership to provide forensic mental health evaluations through a university-based telehealth forensic assessment clinic.

Early career exploration in mental health and the law

CMHPL News | March 29, 2023

Sarah Forslund, an undergraduate student, gained exposure to the forensic mental health field during a month-long mentorship with Dr. Jennifer Piel.

Patients experiencing psychosis benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy in Washington state

CMHPL News | January 10, 2023

The Center for Mental Health, Policy, and the Law, in collaboration with the UW SPIRIT Lab, is working to make cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for psychosis accessible throughout Washington state.

How families can help loved ones experiencing serious mental illness

The Seattle Times | November 7, 2022

Dr. Sarah Kopelovich, CMHPL core faculty member, talks about the role families and caregivers play in recovery from psychosis. She also discusses Psychosis REACH, a training that modifies CBT to the needs of caregivers of individuals with psychotic disorders to better care for and relate to their loved ones.

Department funds suicide prevention and recovery grants

UW Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences News | April 21, 2022

The UW Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences announced the recipients of the Department’s Suicide Prevention and Recovery Small Grants Program aimed at supporting projects related to suicide prevention and recovery. CMHPL Director Dr. Jennifer Piel, Joellyn Sheehy, and colleagues at the Washington Defenders Association and Washington State Bar Association will explore the role that criminal defense attorneys could play in reducing risk of suicide amongst recently arrested criminal defendants.

Suicide risk following criminal arrest

Psychiatric Times | December 30, 2020

The period following arrest can be particularly dangerous, both in custody and in the community. CMHPL Director Dr. Jennifer Piel discusses recent studies and why more attention should be paid to reducing suicide following arrest.

Should juvenile offenders spend their lives behind bars?

The Crime Report | November 2, 2020

Juveniles who commit crimes should be afforded meaningful opportunities for reform and release from prison within their lifetime. This point was underlined by a case brought in Washington state’s Supreme Court concerning the amount of time a person can spend in prison for offenses committed as a juvenile.