Testing The Testing The Waters or . . . Waters or . . .

A Mental HealthA Mental Health Court In Marin Court In Marin

Why Would We Do THAT?Why Would We Do THAT?

Saves Court TimeBetter Use Of Court Time

How Would That Help?How Would That Help?

Increases Offender AccountabilityReduces Recidivism & Arrest Increases Court EfficiencyOffenders Receive Effective & Informed

Court ServicesBuilds Partnerships Among Stakeholders

How Would That How Would That Help ME?Help ME?

Or Or

What’s In It For Me?What’s In It For Me?

Mental Health ClientsMental Health Clients

Increased Support In The CommunityReduces Time In JailDemystifies CourtReasonable RequirementsEncourages IndependenceHelp Getting Through It

JudgesJudges

Mental Health Expertise At Your FingertipsExpedites Court Process Saves Court CostsFewer Adversarial ProceedingsBetter Outcomes For Participants

Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement

Reduces Court AppearancesReduces Calls For ServiceImproves Public SafetyIncreases Awareness Of Mental IllnessIncreases Offender Cooperation With Police

Mental HealthMental Health

Maintains Continuity Of CareIncludes Mental Health PerspectiveCan Increase Client MotivationIncreases Treatment ComplianceCan Assist With Dual Diagnosis Treatment

ProbationProbation

Increased Information SharingExpedites InvestigationsPromotes more effective/reasonable

probation orders and supervision.

ProsecutionProsecution

Increases Offender AccountabilityIncreases Public SafetyIncreases Monitoring of High Risk

Offenders

DefenseDefense

Reduces IncarcerationReduces Criminalization Of Mentally IllConsistent Services For ClientsClients Are Acknowledged For Their

Achievements

Marin County JailMarin County Jail

Reduces Length Of StayReduces Cost of Medical & Psychiatric

Care

Great Idea . . . Great Idea . . . It’ll NEVER HAPPENIt’ll NEVER HAPPEN

HERE!!!HERE!!!

Oh Come ON . . . Try It OUTOh Come ON . . . Try It OUT

STAR Program funding continues until 6-30-03. STAR clients on supervised probation are

sometimes arrested for violations of probation. When these violations occur, we can implement a

mental health court experiment within and existing and FUNDED case management team!

How Would This Work?How Would This Work?

STAR Probation Violation ArrestAppear on 1:30 Dept. M In-Custody

Arraignment CalendarReferred To Department J for “OR Motion”Case Continued to Next Scheduled Mental

Health Court Day

Mental Health CourtMental Health Court

Prior to session, team meets to review/update cases.

A treatment plan is developed and team members agree to support the plan

Each participant appears before the judge and is made aware of the plan

Follow up court dates are scheduled to support compliance

Can We Do It?Can We Do It?

Department “J” Judge Verna Adams has agreed to this experiment and will present this proposal to her colleagues TOMORROW.

The Public Defender has assigned a deputy to appear

Court + STAR = SuccessCourt + STAR = Success

Streamlines and improves PV ProcessProvides better information to the courtPrevents disruptions in treatment planningReduces confusion especially around LPS

and Prop-36 referrals.ANCHORS treatment plan in court

mandates.

Just As A Problem Can Take Just As A Problem Can Take On A Life Of It’s Own, So Too On A Life Of It’s Own, So Too

Can A Solution.Can A Solution.

Christine O’Hanlon – Deputy Public DefenderMarin County Public Defender’s Office415-499-7501Cohanlon@co.marin.ca.us

Miles Kramer – Forensic Services SupervisorMarin County Community Mental Health415-507-2725Mdkramer@co.marin.ca.us

Insurmountable ObstaclesInsurmountable Obstacles$$$$$$$$ . . . . There Ain’t NONE!Calendar CLOGWorking Together Is ComplicationsCommunication BreakdownsMental Health Clients DON’T SHOW UP

IN COURT!!!Shouldn’t Someone Else Do This!Insufficient Support Services In Marin

Mental Health ClientsMental Health Clients

Coerced TreatmentCourt Is My ProblemToo Many Court AppearancesMy Meds My Choice

JudgesJudges

Calendar ClogToo Many Court AppearancesTherapeutic Court? How About Therapy?

Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement

Get Out Of Jail Free?Why Am I Here?

ProbationProbation

These People Aren’t Supervision MaterialWe’re Overloaded ALREADY!These Folks Generate TONS of PV’SNO One Helps US!These Folks Don’t Follow Through With

Treatment

ProsecutionProsecution

Get Out Of Jail Free?No Accountability For Offenders

DefenseDefense

Mentally Ill People Shouldn’t Go To JAILWhat About Due Process?What About Confidentiality?What About Attorney Client Privilege?

Marin County JailMarin County Jail