The Department of State Hospitals (DSH) manages the nation's largest inpatient forensic mental health hospital system. Its mission is to provide evaluation and treatment in a safe and responsible manner, seeking innovation and excellence in state hospital operations, across a continuum of care and settings. DSH is responsible for the daily care and provision of mental health treatment of its patients. In 2014-15, DSH served almost 13,000 patients and the average daily inpatient census was approximately 6,800 in a 24 hours a day/seven days a week hospital setting. Additionally, approximately 600 individuals are served in the conditional release program.

DSH oversees five state hospitals and three psychiatric programs located in state prisons. DSH's five state hospitals are Atascadero, Coalinga, Metropolitan - Los Angeles, Napa and Patton. The three psychiatric programs are operated through an interagency agreement with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), treating inmates in Vacaville, Salinas Valley and Stockton. Additionally, DSH provides services in jail-based competency treatment programs and conditional release programs serving all 58 counties.

Since department programs drive the need for infrastructure investment, each department has a related capital outlay program to support this need. For the specifics on DHS's Capital Outlay Program, see "Infrastructure Overview."