Gov. Inslee: A new Western State Hospital breaks ground, and a promise is kept

Gov. Jay Inslee and leaders from the state Department of Social and Health Services break ground on the new Forensic Center of Excellence on the Western State Hospital campus. Photo courtesy Office of the Governor

On Thursday morning, October 17, 2024 state leaders gathered in Lakewood to break ground on a new hospital to be built on the Western State Hospital campus. The hospital will be a secure facility with 350 beds to serve forensic patients (those accused of a crime and ordered by a court to receive treatment before trial).

Construction of the new Forensic Center of Excellence will complete by 2029.

This project turns a page in state history. Washington state is a different place than it used to be. Western State Hospital is a different place than it used to be. And under the direction of Gov. Jay Inslee, the state’s approach to behavioral health care is different than it used to be.

It’s all change for the better.

Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's Medium