Mental health courts are growing, even though they have no guide

The number of mental health courts in the United States has steadily grown from a mere four in 1997 to over 175, according to Council of State Government Justice Center estimates.

Yet, because of the diversity of program models and their relative newness, there have not been any nationally accepted criteria for effective mental health courts, mental health advocates say.

The Justice Center, a watchdog group, addresses that issue in an updated edition of its paper "Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: The Essential Elements of a Mental Health Court."

The report can be viewed by clicking here.

The publication is the result of many rounds of rigorous review and describes the 10 important program elements that jurisdictions should consider when planning, implementing or enhancing a mental health court.

This latest edition of details the aspects of mental health court design and implementation that can be consistently found in successful courts.

“As communities across the country start mental health courts, they must have resources to help focus their efforts and ensure that their programs are based on collaboration among the criminal justice, mental health, substance abuse and related systems,” said Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, the specialty courts coordinator of Nevada’s Second Judicial District and Justice Center board member.

Right: A mental health court in Alaska, where the convicted get cheered, not scorned.

“The essential elements, which reflect the consensus of researchers and practitioners, should be of great use to jurisdictions as they work to improve outcomes for people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system," she added.

Personal note: I've written extensively about mental health courts throughout the country. Alaska has one of the leading justice programs that deals with this very issue. For more information, view my website at Tom-Davis.net.