Mississippi State Hospital Forensic Services

Mississippi State Hospital is the state’s only inpatient forensic mental health service provider serving all 82 counties in the state. With limited bed capacity for many years, many people have had to wait for services. In the fall of 2024, MSH will have renovations complete on a new maximum-security facility which will provide Mississippi with: 1) a safe and secure environment of care for patients and staff that meets life/safety codes and CMS/Joint Commission standards; 2) better access to forensic services for the entire state; and 3) relief to Mississippi Sheriffs currently housing defendants with a mental illness in jail.

Goal of Forensic Services – Keep Mississippi Communities Safe by:

• Providing inpatient treatment to incompetent defendants so they can stand trial;
• Moving incompetent pretrial defendants out of jail to a location where they can be more safely treated with medications and individual counseling; and
• Housing and supervising high-risk not restorable defendants.
  • Not restorable defendants with violent charges such as murder, rape, and arson

To learn more about Forensic Services, click here or visit www.forensicservices.msh.ms.gov.