Connecticut Valley Hospital is the state’s principal forensic, general psychiatric and addictions inpatient treatment facility. Its Whiting forensic division consists of 106 maximum-security beds and 141 enhanced-security beds. Clients come from around the state, having been committed by a psychiatric security review board, a criminal court (to be returned to competency and stand trial), the state Department of Correction (during incarceration or at the end of a sentence), or by civil commitment (voluntary or involuntary). Those leaving Whiting are typically transferred to another psychiatric hospital, a residential-treatment facility or some other outpatient program, or returned to prison.
Patients admitted to CVH's general psychiatry division are referred by any of several local mental health authorities around the state.
Most admissions to CVH's addiction services division are voluntary and screened by a unit that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Patients may refer themselves or be referred by a mental health agency, hospital, criminal or civil court or from a division of CVH.