In partnership with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), NaphCare, a leading correctional healthcare company, has launched the THRIVE Jail-Based Competency Treatment (JBCT) program at the Washoe County Detention Facility — the first program of its kind in Nevada.

The JBCT program delivers full competency restoration services within the detention facility to individuals whom the court has found incompetent to stand trial. By providing treatment on-site, the program prevents delays in the restoration process and reduces reliance on limited state forensic hospital beds.

The program builds on the facility’s innovative THRIVE Jail-Based Treatment Program (JBTP), which launched in September 2024 to begin intensive mental health treatment for individuals awaiting restoration at the state-operated forensic hospital. As a fully implemented JBCT program, THRIVE now provides comprehensive competency restoration services directly within the jail — something previously not permitted in Nevada. This advancement allows detained individuals to receive targeted treatment and evaluations needed to restore competency and move their legal cases forward.

“The THRIVE Jail-Based Competency Treatment program represents years of work by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to rethink how detention facilities respond to mental health,” said Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam. “This program reflects what can happen when public safety, healthcare professionals, and community partners come together with a shared goal. By expanding mental health treatment inside our facility, we’re helping individuals move forward in the legal process while supporting safer outcomes for our staff, our community, and those in our care suffering from mental health issues.”

THRIVE operates within a dedicated Jail-Based Mental Health Unit designed to increase patient participation, promote wellness, and maintain safety and security. Specially trained WCSO deputies assigned to the unit collaborate daily with NaphCare’s clinical team to create a structured, therapeutic environment focused on restoration and recovery.

Across the country, correctional facilities are experiencing a surge in court-ordered competency evaluations and restoration needs, driven by increasing numbers of individuals living with mental illness and disabilities in jail settings.

“The competency crisis has grown within correctional facilities nationwide as more justice-involved individuals are waiting for the specialized services they need to advance through the justice system,” said Dr. Caroline Parrott, NaphCare’s Vice President of Forensic Mental Health Programs and a clinical forensic psychologist.

Delays in restoration prolong detention, increase costs to taxpayers, and raise due process concerns, including the right to a speedy trial. The longer individuals wait for treatment, the longer it can take to restore competency — and in some cases, the likelihood of restoration decreases. Extended delays can also result in case dismissals, impacting victims and the broader justice system.

The JBCT program is the culmination of years of partnership and progress between NaphCare and WCSO. In March 2023, NaphCare partnered with WCSO to address lengthy delays in competency evaluations for detained individuals. With support from the Washoe County Competency Court, NaphCare began delivering high-quality, timely competency-to-stand-trial evaluations for all defendants housed at the Washoe County Detention Facility, eliminating unnecessary delays at the front end of the process.

Building on that success, NaphCare worked closely with WCSO and local and statewide stakeholders to develop and implement the THRIVE jail-based treatment model. In July 2025, Assembly Bill 467 amended Nevada Revised Statutes to authorize competency restoration treatment within jail settings for certain detained individuals, making the full JBCT program possible.

“Thanks to the efforts of Nevada’s legislators, the Governor’s office, and the support of key community and state stakeholders such as the Division of Public and Behavioral Health and WCSO,” said Dr. Parrott, “THRIVE is able to provide targeted competency restoration treatment so we can directly address barriers to competency head on. The result is faster rates of restoration without burdening the state system unnecessarily. This program is a valuable step forward for our patients and for the legal process in Washoe County.”

Individuals in the THRIVE JBCT program receive individualized mental health and medical treatment alongside specialized forensic services provided by a multidisciplinary team. In addition to the JBCT program, NaphCare continues to provide the Washoe County Forensic Evaluation Program for pre-commitment competency evaluations and specialized adult mental health evaluations, as well as comprehensive medical, mental health, dental, and pharmaceutical services, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP).

The Washoe County Detention Facility is accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and was a 2024 recipient of the NCCHC Pinnacle Award, the highest distinction in correctional healthcare, recognizing accreditation across jail health services, mental health services, and opioid treatment programs.