Monday, April 25, 2005

Mentally Ill Sent to Mental Health Courts (Alabama) Washington Post story - "The mental health courts in Montgomery and Jefferson counties accept mentally ill defendants charged with felonies, while those in Madison County help people charged with misdemeanors. All work only with nonviolent, non-sex offenders who have been prescreened and diagnosed by a state mental health expert. The biggest challenge reported by mental health officials is targeting potential candidates as early as possible, according to a Bureau of Justice Assistance report on mental health courts. Such intervention avoids 'the damaging experience of arrest and confinement..' " [Viewing Washington Post stories requires registration, which is free.]