JMHCP Grantee (2010) -- Seattle: Mental Health Unit

Municipal Court of Seattle Probation Services Division

Overview

Jurisdiction Level

Municipal

JMHCP Grantee Information

Grant Year

2010

Description

The Mental Health Unit serves defendants with mental illness who are ordered by the Court to be on Probation. Probation Counselors have strong backgrounds in mental health and in corrections. To date, Master's degrees in a mental health related study and two years of Probation experience are required. Defendant eligibility for the program includes an Axis I mental illness, brain injury or developmental disability evidenced in conjunction with significant functional impairment that might affect the defendant's ability to complete Court conditions.
The Mental Health Unit carries a reduced caseload and sees Probationers as often as daily (but more commonly weekly) to monitor compliance with mental health treatment, chemical dependency treatment, obtaining public assistance to secure these treatments and any other Court ordered conditions.
Close multi-system coordination is required and implemented by the Mental Health Unit to ensure community safety, defendant support, cross-system efficiency and decreased recidivism.