Shadoe Jones, JD, will provide a foundation on the history of civil commitment and its evolution in the United States. This presentation will address the historical evolution and current practices of civil commitment, highlighting how these systems have changed in response to advances in psychiatry and medicine, shifting social attitudes, and changes in economic policies. Jones will review current civil commitment procedures nationwide and examine how Washington state’s approach compares with other states, offering a critical perspective on this complex and evolving intersection of law and healthcare.