In May, Judge Angela Anderson, presiding judge for the Mental Health Court, and Robin Willis, the supervisor for the program, met with the Healthcare issues group to inform us about this alternative to the traditional criminal justice system for individuals whose criminal behavior is linked to mental illness. The program seeks to reduce recidivism, improve public safety by reducing repeat offenses, and help participants achieve long-term stability through treatment, accountability, and intensive support. It attempts to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior rather than focusing solely on punishment.
The program utilizes a multidisciplinary team, a judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, probation officer, behavioral health specialists, case managers, and clinicians. Participation is voluntary and limited to individuals with serious mental health issues who are facing misdemeanor charges. Individuals progress through a five-phase program, typically lasting 18 to 24 months, which emphasizes recovery, life skills, employment, education, and community engagement. Recognizing that recovery often is not linear, nevertheless, there are consequences if participants do not actively work toward accomplishing goals. The program serves about 30 participants at a time and costs approximately $6,000 per participant per year. However, there likely are long-term savings due to reduced incarceration, less use of emergency services, and less law enforcement involvement.
They reported improved mental health and quality of life among graduates, improved employment outcomes for 90% of participants who were in the workforce, stable housing for nearly all graduates, and a 90.4% reduction in legal-system involvement one year after graduation.
A recording of the presentation is available on the LWVBWC website. Click on the tab Our Work and select Healthcare, or click
here.