What is James Nash House?
WHEN a person accused of a crime is deemed mentally unfit to stand trial or a court has found them not guilty by reason of mental illness — as in the case of Cy Walsh — they can be sent to James Nash House.
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WHEN a person accused of a crime is deemed mentally unfit to stand trial, or a court has found them not guilty by reason of mental illness, they can be sent to James Nash House.
The 30-bed facility, at Oakden, in Adelaide’s north east, houses forensic mental health patients, including those awaiting court hearings, where they undergo rigorous mental health assessments, which are often referred to at their next court appearance.
Those detained at James Nash House are placed in a high, medium or low security ward, all of them closely monitored.
Detained patients cannot leave the centre unless in a medical emergency.
Because he has been charged with murder, Cy Walsh is in the high security ward.
In this ward, every patient has their own room, similar to a prison cell with a bed and toilet.
Depending on the treatment they are receiving for their mental illnesses, forensic patients can be moved from high security to a medium or low security ward.
James Nash house also has rehabilitation wards for patients preparing to re-enter the community.
Psychiatrists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and volunteers provide a range of inpatient services at the centre.
In 2013, the State Government opened a 10-bed facility called Ashton House for patients released from secure detention at James Nash House.
This step-down facility houses patients found by a court to be mentally incompetent at the time of their offending who have already served a considerable amount of time in custody.
Patients are often released into the community on license after spending time at Ashton House.
About 300 people live in the community with strict licence conditions.