A Moorhead man, James Kollie, has been waiting nearly a year for mental health treatment at a state facility after being declared incompetent to stand trial. Kollie is charged with the December 2022 murder of his mother, Receia Kollie. Despite a court order in October 2022 for his commitment to the Forensic Mental Health Program in St. Peter, Minnesota, Kollie remains in the Clay County Jail due to the facility operating at capacity.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services reported that the average wait time for admission to this program is 288 days, reflecting a significant backlog. Currently, 51 individuals are on the waitlist. The program’s capacity issues highlight broader systemic problems with mental health treatment availability in the state.
Kollie’s prolonged detention without appropriate mental health care raises concerns about the conditions and rights of individuals awaiting treatment. The Minnesota Legislature has approved measures to add 16 more beds to the St. Peter facility and has implemented new criteria to prioritize admissions, aiming to address the long-term demand for mental health services in the state.