Mental Health Court

  
     

Thurston County Mental Health Court serves the community and increases public safety by monitoring and supporting mentally ill offenders in accessing treatment and improving their quality of life. We treat each participant with respect and dignity, thus empowering them to make positive changes in their life.

April 22, 2005 marked the first official hearing date of the Thurston County Mental Health Court, a service of the Thurston County District Court. The court is designed to offer a therapeutic approach to individuals suffering from mental illness who are currently involved in the local criminal justice system.

Eligibility

The Thurston County Mental Health Court is a court-supervised, comprehensive program available to mentally ill offenders who meet specific eligibility criteria.

To be considered for entry into the court:

  • S/he must have a DSM-IV-TR Axis I mental illness.
     
  • S/he suffers from an organic brain injury or head trauma.
     
  • S/he is developmentally disabled.
     
  • S/he suffers from a DSM-IV-TR Axis II disorder and is approved for eligibility at the staffing.

In addition to the above criteria:

  • an individual must demonstrate a low-medium risk to the community as tested by the Level of Service Inventory – Revised: Screening Version

    AND
     
  • there must be a nexus, or link, between the individual’s mental health and their criminal charge

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Mental Health Court Objectives

  • Protect public safety
     
  • Reduce the recidivism rate for mentally ill offenders
     
  • Increase communication between the criminal justice system and the mental health system
     
  • Connect, or reconnect, mentally ill persons with needed treatment and increase access to community resources
     
  • Reduce criminal justice cost to the community by decreasing the number of jail bed days of the mentally ill offender population (which is 2x longer than that of the non-mentally ill offender population)
     
  • Encourage court participation in lieu of incarceration for mentally ill offenders who meet the criteria and are compliant with their treatment program.

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Process for Admission

Individuals may be referred for admission by anyone.
Examples of likely referrals are:

  • Treatment Providers
  • Judges
  • Law Enforcement Officers
  • Corrections  Deputies
  • Probation officers
  • Prosecutors
  • Defense Counsel
  • Family Members
  • Self-referrals
  1. The individual will meet with the Mental Health Court Coordinator for assessment of eligibility.
     
  2. Prior to being considered for the program the participant is required to sign appropriate releases of information authorizing the Mental Health Court Coordinator to obtain information concerning the individual's mental and physical health treatments, and drug and alcohol treatments (as necessary). This release of information allows the individual's case to be discussed at staffing.
     
  3. The case will be staffed by a multi-disciplinary team, including the Mental Health Court Judge, Prosecuting and Defense Attorneys, Mental Health Court Coordinator, Domestic Violence Victim Advocate, Behavioral Health Resources Liaison, and additional professional staff where appropriate. For example, a Developmental Disability Specialist.
     
  4. Once accepted into the program the individual will be heard on the Mental Health Court calendar and will need to sign the Mental Health Court Contract, outlining their terms of participation.
     
  5. Prior to the hearing the defendant will discuss legal options with defense counsel to ensure they are making a well-informed and voluntary decision.

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Program Participation

Program participants will engage in individual treatment plans designed by their treatment providers. These elements are common to all participants:

  • Weekly court hearings before the Mental Health Court Judge
     
  • Progress report presented by the Mental Health Court Coordinator with comments and recommendations based upon program progress and compliance
     
  • Ongoing monitoring with Mental Health Court Contract, including compliance with counseling / treatment requirements, medication compliance, and verification of adequate housing

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Graduation - A Beginning

The length of participation in the Mental Health Court Program can be up to twenty-four (24) months, with frequent case reviews.

Graduation is viewed as a beginning for the participant to:

  • Experience continued stability
  • Experience continued growth with respect to positive lifestyle changes
  • Be more productive within the community
  • Avoid further criminal law violations

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Mental Health Court Benefits

To the Community:

  • Reduced costs to the community resulting from court and jail overcrowding
  • Reduced criminal activity within the community
  • Increased contribution to the community from program participants

To the Participant:

  • Ongoing support in achieving goals
  • Increased stability
  • Avoid recidivism
  • Achieve a sense of dignity and self-worth
  • Empowerment to strive for future goal attainment

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More Information

If you would like more information about the Thurston County Mental Health Court, please call the Mental Health Court Coordinator 360-867-2035.

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