ASK ROZ

Mental Health Court For Albuquerque, Yea or Nay ?

As some of us already know, a Mental Health Court is a part of the criminal justice system serving those who have both mental illness and criminal charge. Some Mental Health Courts deal only with misdemeanor and low level felony charges and others deal also with more serious offenses. Going through this court rather than an ordinary criminal court is a voluntary decision as an individual may opt in or out.

Once opting in, the individual usually agrees to a case manager, mental health team and either in-patient or out-patient mental health treatment. According to the courts already in existence, different things may happen, for example; during the period of treatment one may go before the judge frequently so he/she may keep abreast of the individual’s progress. If the treatment is successfully completed, the judge may dismiss the charges. In some courts, a person may be given many chances to progress and while in other courts a person may return to jail more quickly when one is unsuccessful in progressing.

Mental Health Courts are already in existence in Broward County, Florida, King County, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska.

Following are some pros and cons of Mental Health Courts:

PROS:
- Move out of jail quickly.
- Provide clinical alternatives to arrest and incarceration.
- Avoid unnecessary competency evaluations.
- Ensure continuity of care.

CONS:
- The community needs to have a broad array of mental health services in place.
- Since Albuquerque lacks such an array of services, when the Mental Health Court orders someone to treatment will that bump others in the community from needed services?
- Have we identified the type, amount and cost of the needed services for this target group?
- How long will the individual be required to
participate in the program?

Both consumers and community must think this out. Consumers must decide what their needs are and if they can best be served by a Mental Health Court. Think of how this court should operate and what is needed in the way of community treatment to make it successful. Most important, make your needs and feelings known to all the organizations and players who are in the midst of working toward the establishment of such a court in Albuquerque.