mental health court

Article: Procedural justice and the mental health court judge's role in reducing recidivism

mental health court

"Abstract

Wisconsin Mental Health Court keeping people out of jail, saving money

mental health court

"There is evidence the program is working. The first graduate of the two-year program had 17 convictions in the three years before joining the court. Since then, he's had zero. The court is also saving the county money. To house one person in the county jail costs around $57-thousand. To get someone through the mental court program costs the county just $4-tousand. In the two years since the program was implemented, it is estimated the county has saved around $143-thousand."

http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13004927

Therapeutic Jurisprudence in Victoria, Australia

"Striking a balance between retribution and rehabilitation has been made more difficult by mounting evidence indicating that incarceration and even court processes often aggravates offender mental health problems. Subsequently, the same offenders get stuck in a "revolving door" criminal justice experience, where the underlying problems are not just ignored, they are often worsened.

"We had one man with an intellectual disability who was so terrified of being in a court room that he cut-up all his clothes just before he walked in, because he thought that would mean he wouldn't have to attend" says Viv Mortell, program manager of the court. "In this setting it's less formal, it's a problem solving approach and participants are put on individual support plans with achievable goals like going to see a neurologist or joining a community group."

Kansas City MO Municipal Drug Court Receives $544,120 Grant

mental health court

"The grant will provide:

* Intake assessments and case management.
* A psychiatrist from Truman Medical Center-Behavioral Health for mental health evaluations at the Regional Correctional Center.
* Motivational Enhancement Groups, to be conducted by First Call at the Regional Correctional Center to enhance motivation for change.
* Community CareLink Database through First Call that will connect the entire drug court team to a web based data system that accurately tracks participants, ensures accurate outcomes and obtains important data from treatment centers.
* A minimum of 15 residential substance abuse treatment beds a year.
* Program evaluation conducted by the Resource Development Institute."

New Mental Health Court Opens to Referrals in Cowlitz County

mental health court

"The District Court program — known as the Hope and Recovery Court — plans to accept 10 defendants at a time. It will provide treatment instead of jail time and fines to those with schizophrenia, bipolar, schizoaffective disorder and other mental illnesses."

Mental Health Court Likely Coming to Manhattan in 2011

mental health court

"Mental health courts already exist in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn and elsewhere across the state. Generally defendants with mental disorders are ordered to undergo psychiatric counseling and outpatient therapy instead of being sent to jail pending the outcome of their case.

The court, which will be at 100 Centre Street, will be presided over by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, who said he was drawn to the position because of his background as a family court judge."

Judge Ginger Lerner Wren: Mental Health Courts & Repairing the World

mental health court

Cutting Edge Law Categories:

Court Innovation and Problem Solving Courts

Topics:

Juvenile/Criminal Justice

Topics:

Courts and Judiciary

Audience:

General Interest

In Part 1, Judge Ginger Lerner Wren talks about the "desperation" that led to founding the mental health court in Broward County, Florida.

"What a Mental Health Court Should Be": Blog

mental health court

http://pairprogram.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-mental-health-court-should-...

Guam Opens Mental Health Court

Excerpt: The Judiciary of Guam will commence its new Mental Health Court this month, a specialty court designed specifically to provide appropriate services to adult individuals with mental illness or developmental disability with or without co-occurring substance abuse charged with non-violent offenses.

More: http://www.guampdn.com/article/20090429/NEWS01/904290315/1002