The influx of people with mental illnesses into the criminal justice system has had a significant impact on court functioning. Court practitioners often struggle with how best to handle these individuals’ cases, which may be complicated and can consume a disproportionate share of court systems’ limited resources. In response, many communities have begun to explore how courts can help to connect people with mental illnesses to community treatment services with the assumption this will lessen their criminal justice involvement.
Justice Center Publications
Reviews the design and function of mental health courts, outcomes of mental health court participation, and questions and implications for policy and practice. This guide is intended to assist policymakers and practitioners in assessing the utility of mental health courts. (download)
Outlines 10 elements essential to mental health court design and implementation and provides background on why each element is important and how courts can adhere to it. (download)
Local Program Example
Jefferson County Mental Health Court
Hawaii First Judicial Circuit Mental Health Court
Media Clips
The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) is scheduled to release its practice guidelines this summer, a first-ever effort to bring some consistency to forensic evaluations of mentally ill individuals accused of crimes.
A local judge is being honored with an award of $120,000 for being a health leader by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Rexburg District Judge Brent Moss was presented with the award last night for his work in helping defendants with severe mental health illness.