In re the Detention of R.A.W.

In July 1999, R.A.W. was involuntarily committed for up to 180 days of inpatient treatment at Western State Hospital (WSH). Similarly, in June 1999, D.J.T. was involuntarily committed for up to 90 days at WSH. Both R.A.W. and D.J.T. contend that the trial court erred by instructing the jury (1) to give “great weight to any prior history of decompensation,” and that (2) before a less restrictive alternative treatment can be ordered, the outpatient facility designated must agree to assume responsibility for the patient’s treatment. R.A.W. and D.J.T. argue that the latter instruction creates a…