About
Mental Health Court is a specialty court designed to assist offenders in establishing independence and stability through individualized treatment plans and regular court appearances. This structured program utilizes community organizations, in addition to case managers and probation officers, to help an individual become self-sufficient while reducing their risk of recidivism. Mental Health Court has a successful completion rate of 76%.
Goal:
Access to and compliance with treatment, establish stability, accountability for actions, and continued mental health.
Criteria:
All clients will be required to enter a guilty plea prior to entering Mental Health Court. Clients eligible for judicial release may also be considered for admission. Clients must be residents of Montgomery County, Ohio, who have been charged with one or more felonies.
Clinical Criteria
Qualifying Diagnosis:
To be admitted to Mental Health Court, clients must have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder (bipolar or depressive), Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, as diagnosed by a licensed provider and as described in the most current edition of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
A history of serious or repetitive violence, including domestic violence convictions where physical harm or weapons were involved, will likely exclude a client from Mental Health Court. Such determination will be left to the discretion of the Mental Health Court Judge.
Objective:
Connect clients with mental health treatment options through area agencies and provide an encouraging and supportive atmosphere to enable clients to gain stability and self-sufficiency. To maintain a recidivism rate of less than 30% within the six-month period following graduation from Mental Health Court.
Schedule:
Mental Health Court will be held at the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Building, 41 North Perry Street, Judge Timothy N. O’Connell Courtroom # 11, 4th Floor @ 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.