Mental Health Court–who decides?
So the question I have about the mental health court is whether it can be used to resolve felony cases, and if there are any exceptions, and who gets to decide who gets in. Instead of putting someone on probation (or in jail) for felonies, if the alleged criminal activity was caused by mental illness, wouldn’t mental health court and treatment be the appropriate resolution?
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Hi Dominick, I’m a long time friend of Keri’s and in many ways Lee’s, through prayer and counsel ‘intervention’ through many years…she told me about your site and blog and I got to read her copious amounts of your blog to her via phone, as she and John take a well needed break in Arizona. Personally, I have traveled many and various paths parallel on behalf of people who found themselves in the uncertain and stormy waters of the legal system for alleged crimes. Mental issues were always at the core and I am happy to say that in all cases, the Judge responded with heart rather than stone cold Law. Most of these were ‘up North’, in large cities which turned in part to their favor. Not so here in Collier County, sadly. Having been a part of this lovely yet painfully ignorant part of the Americas, I have seen a gross lack of even basic development and evolvement of growth in knowledge and utilization of such knowledge on behalf of those who suffer from mental illness and its many and sundry ways of manifestations that plague our community and world. Creating programs such as this is a Huge step toward getting help for them rather than incarceration that only continues to harden and close them off to a possibility of a better future. I Bless you on this journey to return dignity and hope to the truly mentally ill. I believe you have been called for such a time as this! Highest Regards, Debra Joy