University of Washington, Western State Hospital and The Washington Institute

The fellowship was established at Western State Hospital (WSH) under the auspices of the University of Washington and the Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training. Training includes supervised clinical rotations, weekly formal didactics, and research.

The primary site of training is the 270 bed forensic unit at WSH, where residents conduct a wide array of adult criminal forensic evaluations in inpatient and outpatient settings. Fellows participate in the treatment of incompetent defendants, insanity acquittees, and conditionally released insanity acquittees and provide consultation to professionals treating geriatric and civil psychiatric patients.

Fellows also receive training at the Child Study and Treatment Center where they conduct juvenile criminal forensic evaluations. Exposure to civil forensics occurs under the supervision of faculty working in the private sector. Residents may also become involved in the evaluation and treatment of sex offenders. During a rotation in the Pierce County Jail, residents focus on the treatment of the incarcerated mentally ill offender and systems issues.

The program is run in parallel with a forensic psychology fellowship.

Faculty includes psychiatrists with subspecialty certification in forensic psychiatry, forensic psychologists, lawyers (practicing and law school faculty), and other professionals with special interests and expertise in branches of forensic mental health.

Fringe benefits include: health insurance, malpractice insurance, three weeks of vacation, and educational leave.