Mental Health Court is based on the Drug Court model, a long-term, intensively supervised program meant to keep addicts drug-free and out of jail. Mental Health Court brings together representatives of agencies that deal frequently with the mentally ill: law enforcement, probation and parole officers, public defenders, prosecutors and health-care providers. Most donate their time.

The program monitors participants daily and offers substance-abuse counseling, mental-health counseling, random drug and alcohol testing and vocational training. It is meant to break the cycle that often begins when a mentally ill person is caught breaking the law and is put on probation and ordered to take medication to control the illness.

The program began with four participants even though Vigil and Drug Court/Mental Health Court director Lupe Sanchez didn't have funding. Now 17 people are enrolled in the Mental Health Court program, with two others awaiting acceptance.

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