In a hearing on Friday, a Jackson County Judge ordered Camillia Foulks to submit to in-patient treatment at the Alton Mental Health Center until she is found fit to stand trial for the fire deaths of eight children.

Foulks is charged with eight counts of involuntary manslaughter, one count of endangering the life or health of a child and one count of reckless conduct in connection with the fatal August blaze.

After Foulks was found unfit for trial January 25 and missed her February 24 and March 17 evaluation appointments, she was ordered May 5 to submit herself to the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center for an evaluation.

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On May 22 she was examined by psychologist Michael R. Jasmon who said the purpose of the examination was to assess Foulks’ potential danger to others, escape risk, biographical information and historical information.

In court on Friday Jasmon recommended Foulks be placed at the Alton Mental Health Center, because it would be the least restrictive and most beneficial. Jasmon said he has been pleased with other patients who have gone to the Alton facility.

Jasmon said there is not a facility in Jackson County that would fit Foulks’ needs, and the Alton Mental Health Center in Madison County has a specialized forensic program.

At the hearing, Jackson County States Attorney Mike Wepsiec and Public Defender Mike Rowland told Judge David W. Watt Jr. they agreed that the Alton facility was best suited for Foulks.

Wepsiec said the Alton Mental Health Center is specially designated to help people attain fitness for court proceedings, and Rowland said he has great respect for the facility and personnel at the Alton facility.

Watt said he believes Foulks needs treatment, but said her case is unusual because she has not been incarcerated. Foulks has been free on her own recognizance since she was charged August 22.

We probably should have done this (treatment placement) earlier, Watt said.

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Watt ordered Foulks’ placement at Alton to begin Monday, July 10. Rowland said Foulks’ minister Rev. B. R. Hollins would drive her to Alton then.

Watt said Illinois statutes state that until placement, the person arrested is supposed to wait in jail and be transported to the place of treatment by a sheriff.

Rowland asked that Foulks be held to her bond over the weekend instead of being jailed, because he thought she might see incarceration as punishment.

Watt said he had no problem with those arrangements as long as Foulks was at the Alton Mental Health Center on Monday.

An admissions worker at the Alton Mental Health Center could not verify Foulks’ arrival at the center Monday due to the Confidentiality Act.