JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Three civil rights organizations have filed a federal class action lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Mental Health over violations of constitutional rights.

The ACLU of Missouri said the lawsuit was filed on Monday, Nov. 24, alongside the MacArthur Justice Center and ArchCity Defenders .

The organizations claim that the DMH failed to provide adequate treatment to pre-trial detainees with mental illness and disabilities.

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State law requires competency evaluations within 60 days of a court order. However, court documents show these evaluations often take 6 months.

According to the ACLU, nearly 500 individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial wait in jail without tr

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