The Thurston County Mental Health and Veterans Courts are intensively supervised, comprehensive deferral programs designed to offer a therapeutic approach to individuals suffering from mental illness who are currently involved in the local criminal justice system. The courts are available to defendants who meet specfic eligibility criteria:

• Qualifying criminal case filed in Thurston County, City of Lacey or City of Tumwater jurisdiction and not excluded by RCW 2.30
• Qualifying mental health diagnosis
• Low to medium objective risk assessment score
• Nexus between diagnosis and criminal charge

Veterans Court is intended to serve veterans or active duty military personnel involved in the Thurston County criminal justice system. Additional factors considered for entry into Veterans Court are:

• Connection between diagnosis and military service
• Eligibility for VA Healthcare or ability to engage in military or community treatment services
• Suitability for assignment to Veterans Court

Suitability elements are also considered:

• Motivation to make lifestyle changes
• Amenability to and ability to benefit from mental health treatment
• Amenability to and ability to benefit from the intense supervision and structure of the program

• Improve public safety
• Reduce recidivism
• Increase communication between the criminal justice and mental health systems
• Increase access to treatment and to community resources
• Reduce criminal justice cost to the community by decreasing the number of jail bed days of the mentally ill offender population

Anyone except for the defendants themselves can make an initial referral to MH/VC. This includes any judge, law enforcement officer, probation officer, pre-trial services officer, prosecutor, defense counsel, treatment provider or family member. The attorney of record and the case prosecutor will be notified of the informal referral prior to any futher processing of the case.

• The attorney of record completes and submits the MH/VC Referral Form via mail, email, fax or through the court.
• The program manager meets with the defendant for an eligibility assessment.
• The program manager collects pertinent records and determines if the defendant appears to meet the eligibility and suitability requirements.
• The case is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team for entry into the program. This includes the MH/VC judge, assigned prosecuting and defense attorneys, clinical staff, and treatment liaisons.
• If at any point in the process, the case prosecutor disagrees with the referral, or if the defendant is determined to be ineligible or unsuitable for entry to the program, the case proceeds no further in the process.
• If accepted, the attorney of record and case prosecutor are advised and asked for final approval. Prior to entry, the legal outcome of successful completion of the program will be agreed upon.
• The program manager will instruct the defendant to observe a full court calendar, ask them to submit to a urinalysis test, and introduce them to their assigned care coordinator. Once the urinalysis test results are returned negative, the defendant will be scheduled for an initial meeting with their care coordinator to go over and sign the appropriate program paperwork.
• The defendant is encouraged to consult with their attorney of record to ensure they are making an informed decision.
• If the case is a Superior Court case, the “down file” will need to occur prior to scheduling entry to the program.
• The defendant is scheduled for entry. Upon entry date, the defendant signs the plea agreement and MH/VC contract. If the attorney of record is private counsel, they will need to attend that hearing and at that time may file a motion to withdraw.

These elements are common to all participants:

• Judicial Monitoring: The participant attends court weekly until such time that the clinical staff and the judge agree that a lengthier span of time between court appearances is appropriate. This decision is based on compliance, progress and attitude.
• Intensive Therapeutic Case Management: The participant is required to attend frequent individual, in-person meetings with their assigned care coordinator, who functions as a cross between a probation counselor and a therapeutic case manager. The care coordinator monitors compliance of MH/VC contract obligations, treatment compliance and sobriety while providing support, connection to resources and holistic care coordination. The care coordinator reports to the court on the progress of the participant with comments and recommendations based upon program progress and compliance.
  • If a client is not compliant, the care coordinator files a violation report with the court. The participant should always meet with their assigned attorney prior to their violation report review hearing. The participant will always be given an opporutnity to speak and sanctioning will not be determined prior to their hearing.
• Sobriety Monitoring: All participants are required to engage in sobriety monitoring as clincally indicated. This will take the form of forensic quality urinalysis testing, use of a blood alcohol device (BAMD, aka SCRAM) and portable breath tests. Hair and saliva testing are also available and may be used.
• Access to Resources: Many community resources are available to help ensure participants have the ability to follow through with appointments, have access to medication, adequate housing and transportation, as well as other needed services.

Mental Health and Veterans Court programs are both twenty-four (24) months. Time may be extended to address violations, incomplete treatment or other un- or nearly-finished obligations. Graduation requires participants to be six months violation free and to complete a graduation plan to be presented in court. Graduation is an individualized celebration of the participant’s success and family and friends are encouraged to attend.

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
• Reduced involvement in the criminal justice system
• A sense of dignity and self-worth
• Empowerment to strive for future goal attainment

If you would like more information about the Thurston County Mental Health or Veterans Court, please contact the Program Manager, Keith Meyer, at 360-867-2034 or email keith.meyer@co.thurston.wa.us.

Services
• NAMI Thurston/Mason
• Lacey Veterans Services Hub
• Thurston County Veterans Services
• Justice for Vets
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Puget Sound
• Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs
• Behavioral Health Resources – Crisis Resolution Services
• Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties

Videos
• Mental Health Court Graduate has New Outlook on Life
• The Man Who Believes He Shot Pat Tillman Gives Back to Other Vets
• Shane's Story