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Introduction
Health Care For
Homeless Veterans
Florida Assertive
Community Treatment
Helping Hands
Clinic
Veterans Video
Network
Mental Health
Intensive Case Management
Crisis
Intervention Team
Assisted Living
Facilities
National Alliance
On Mental Illnesses
Alachua County
Survivors Of Suicide and Alachua County Crisis Center
Mental Health
Court
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The 2002-03 Report from Florida’s Department of Corrections
concluded that serious mental illness is a growing problem in the
state’s prisons. The study notes that 15% of inmates in the state
and federal prisons suffer from serious mental disorders. Excluding
substance disorders, 10,000 inmates in Florida’s prisons have a
mental disorder requiring treatment. In addition to Assertive
Community Treatment models, Jail Diversion Services are
evidence-based approaches that promote treatment and recovery.
Mental Health Court, police training, and special police/treatment
professional outreach teams fall under this category.
The first Mental Health Court (MHC) in Alachua County originated in
the fall of 2001. The court was modeled after the original MHC in
Broward. Its purpose is to provide misdemeanor defendants with
mental illness the least restrictive treatment, training and support
services necessary to reduce recidivism and ensure public safety.
The court is an approach to balance the needs of both the defendant
and the community by addressing the root of the problem, which for
many patients is not taking their medications.
A defendant arrested for a non-violent misdemeanor or criminal
traffic offense may be referred to MHC by law enforcement, their
attorneys, others in the court system, or mental health providers,
to name a few. The defendant is then screened to determine
appropriateness for placement in MHC. Phase II involves development
of a court plan by the defendant, case managers, and pre-trial
Counselor. The case plan includes goals, services, and discharge
requirements from MHC. In phase III, the MHC team evaluates and
closely monitors the defendant’s compliance with the court plan. The
average defendant is in the program for a total of six to nine
months; after successful completion, the charges are dropped and the
individual continues the treatment plan.
This is truly a team effort involving Judge James Nilon, the MHC
Judge, the offices of the Public Defender and the State Attorney,
the Alachua County Jail, Department of Children and Families, Court
Services, and mental health providers. Three Mondays a month at 1:30
pm, the team gathers in the courthouse for a detailed discussion of
each defendant’s progress in the program. At 3:00 p.m. the MHC
convenes and each defendant is called to the podium before Judge
Nilon who supports and reinforces the treatment plan and uses
positive and negative incentives to promote compliance.
For more information on Mental Health Court, contact Donna Houghton
352-384-3081.
For other programs for the mentally ill, contact Court Services
352-338-7336
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