WA families are using ‘Joel’s Law’ for involuntary commitments more than ever. Is it working?

Joel’s Law petitions increased by 266% since 2020 statewide

By: Conor Wilson / Kitsap Sun

Outlets: InvestigateWest

Published: March 28, 2025

Words: 2,864

Last Updated: 3 months ago

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Tatiana Leone never leaves her Bremerton apartment without a reusable grocery bag filled with documents detailing her son’s history of mental illness. She doesn’t know when she will run into her son, who lives unhoused in Seattle, and she wants to be prepared if he’s in a crisis.

She's used the pile of documents — including records of his behavioral health history, jail stints and hospital stays — once before. In 2020, she successfully asked a …

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