SebCo prosecutor to do "everything in (his) power" to open mental health court
Times RecordNov 17, 2019
County Prosecutor
Officials in 2019 reapplied for the grant, submitting more statistics about mental illness in the county criminal justice system at the request of DOJ officials, Shue said. If implemented, the mental health court would be the third alternative sentencing program in the county along with drug court and veteran's court.
Shue said he will do "everything in (his) power" to open up a mental health court in
"It's something that's not only the right thing to do, it will dovetail with what we're already doing," Shue said.
Shue said it's possible
"There's a significant need here in our community. Even with the Crisis Stabilization Unit, we see case after case where someone has either been undiagnosed or had problems with adhering to their treatment," Guidance Center Director
Although he initially thought mental health court should just be for misdemeanor offenders, Shue said he now believes many convicted felons should be eligible. Qualifying defendants convicted of thefts of more than
Mental health courts in
"I would never do this with defendants that don't need to be in there, but obviously, there are a lot of defendants who need to be in a mental health treatment court," he said.
Shue said a mental health court in
But whether they're using substances or not, officials agree jail is the last place nonviolent offenders with mental disorders need to be.
"I remember (a family member with mental illness) telling me that the time in the cell was really the worst point in their life. It was all because they were having a mental breakdown," said First 100 Families Director
"Can you imagine having a psychotic break and then getting thrown into jail? That's just medieval," Shue said. "There's got to be a better way. I think this is the better way, and we've got to get one established."
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