The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the state’s new 40-bed forensic restoration facility on the campus of East Central Regional Hospital in Augusta on Thursday.
“Georgia has made significant investments to help us tackle the growing demand for forensic services, and this facility is another important piece of that ongoing work,” said DBHDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner. “With the continued support of Governor Kemp and the General Assembly, we are adding capacity, creating new restoration models and finding ways to move individuals through the system more efficiently. Each of these investments brings us closer to a system that better serves individuals while reducing the strain on our local jails, courts and communities.”
Supported by $20.7 million in funding from Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly, the new facility will expand Georgia’s capacity to provide competency restoration services for individuals who have been found incompetent to stand trial, helping address growing demand for forensic services across the state.
The project is part of the state’s broader effort to address growing forensic demand, increase treatment capacity and help individuals move more efficiently through the restoration process. Expanding restoration capacity also helps relieve pressure on local jails and courts as they wait for individuals to receive court-ordered services. As of Sept. 28, 834 individuals across Georgia are waiting for forensic restoration services.
In January 2025, DBHDD opened Georgia’s first standalone Jail Restoration Center in Dodge County, creating an alternative setting for individuals who need competency restoration services but do not require treatment in a state psychiatric hospital. Since opening, the center has restored 82 individuals to competency.
Georgia is also making a historic investment in additional forensic capacity at Georgia Regional Hospital–Atlanta. Later this year, DBHDD is expected to break ground on a new 300-bed hospital building for forensic services on the Atlanta campus. The $409 million project represents one of the largest investments in Georgia’s behavioral health infrastructure and will significantly expand the state’s long-term capacity to serve individuals with complex behavioral health and forensic needs.
*Editor’s Note: An architectural rendering of the new facility and a ceremony photo are attached.
DBHDD empowers individuals with behavioral health challenges, fostering recovery and emphasizing strengths. We also provide tailored services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, promoting independence and fulfilling lives. DBHDD manages Georgia’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
