Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Bozita

(26,955 posts)
Sun Mar 4, 2012, 03:48 AM Mar 2012

Jeff Gerritt: Salvaging lives, saving money: Eight pilot courts that divert mentally ill offenders

eff Gerritt: Salvaging lives, saving money: Eight pilot courts that divert mentally ill offenders from prison
March 4, 2012 | Comments

Michigan's treatment of mentally ill people has disgraced the state, as hundreds of thousands have gone without treatment and ended up in county jails and state prisons, warehoused at a cost to taxpayers of $35,000 a year each.

It's a common and tragic story: Mentally ill defendants -- often abusing drugs -- cycle through the criminal justice system repeatedly for petty offenses until they are slapped with lengthy prison sentences as repeat offenders.

Since 2008, however, eight mental health court pilot programs, now serving nearly 700 people a year, have given hope to mentally ill offenders like Angela DeCant, 35; Henry Smith, 47; and Steven Townsend, 52. Wayne County Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny and others who preside over the courts have the option of sentencing them to 18 months of intensely supervised probation and treatment.

-snip-


Working with community-based nonprofits like Detroit Central City Community Mental Health, participants get medications, attend relapse prevention classes and group therapy, meet with psychiatrists, undergo residential treatment, and talk with job and housing specialists to get their lives on track.

The pilot courts work at a fraction of the cost of incarceration. But they will end Sept. 30, when the annual $1.65-million federal grant expires, unless the governor and state Legislature find another way to pay for them.

-snip-

more, much more...
...
http://www.freep.com/article/20120304/OPINION02/203040478/SALVAGING-LIVES-SAVING-MONEY-Eight-pilot-courts-that-divert-mentally-ill-offenders-from-prison-to-treatment-are-showing-promising-results-It-s-time-to-expand-the-experiment-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Jeff Gerritt: Salvaging lives, saving money: Eight pilot courts that divert mentally ill offenders (Original Post) Bozita Mar 2012 OP
very interesting mdmc Mar 2012 #1
Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Mental Health Support»Jeff Gerritt: Salvaging l...