Initial Detention Hearing

Today, Mary and I traveled an hour north to the facility where Patrick has resided for the past week to attend a hearing to decide whether he would be released or extending his stay. Along with Patrick, there was his physician, his public defender, the Skagit county attorney prosecuting his case, a clerk of the court, and a Skagit county commissioner. We were all squeezed into a small conference room at a table with just room for us; Patrick was at one end and the commissioner was presiding at the other.

After introductions, the judge informed Patrick that physicians were recommending that he stay in treatment for another two week period and that was what the hearing was about primarily. She also told him that he would be losing his gun rights as part of this detention. Initially, Patrick’s attorney informed the court that he would be contesting extending the stay. However, after the two of them had a brief recess together, Patrick and his attorney returned to inform the court that there would be no contest. The entire proceeding took less than 10 minutes.

His mother and I were/are so relieved. Our only wish is that Patrick receive and accept the treatment that his physicians recommend. Indeed, we told him, his doctor, and the court officers that he would be welcome home, so long as he was willing to follow his doctor’s orders and they recommend his release.

We stuck around after the hearing ended. Patrick asked us to meet with him. We were eager to do so. We hadn’t been able to talk to Patrick for any length of time for months. We had a short conversation with him emphasizing that we love him and wish for him to return and build a life. Mary did most of the talking. We made it clear that he needed to listen to his doctors and if he did, then we would welcome him home. He was cogent, calm, and respectful. He was also still full of the delusions that have been part of him, since his break. We didn’t expect him to suddenly be clear in his mind. We aren’t even sure that any drug treatment had been introduced. We won’t know unless and until the Guardianship decision has been reached. That will take time. We pray that he will grab at the chance to listen to experts and take the necessary steps to improve and that we will get to visit with him several times between now and the next checkpoint in his care.

In two weeks, the facility may recommend an additional 90 day stay. Patrick has the right to contest that with either a bench of jury trial. We hope he chooses to listen to the doctors when the time comes. That could come at any time. The 14-days ahead are not a guarantee, it all depends on how he proceeds with treatment and whether he is sufficiently recovered. In the meantime, we will work on the Guardianship and a care plan for him, assuming that he will return home soon.