Judge Brett BuckleyJudge Brett Buckley Judge Debra Judge Debra HayesHayes

Marianne ClearMarianne Clear Sandy Manfred Sandy Manfred

Thurston CountyThurston CountyMental Health CourtMental Health Court

The mission of the Thurston County Mental Health and Veterans Court is to serve the community and increase public safety by monitoring, supporting

and holding accountable justice-involved involved individuals with mental illness in accessing

treatment and improving their quality of life. We treat each participant with respect and dignity, thus empowering them to make positive changes in their

life.

Thurston County Thurston County Mental Health CourtMental Health Court

Task Force: Commissioner Wolfe Task Force: Commissioner Wolfe and Judge Stilzand Judge Stilz

Inaugural Hearing April 22, 2005Inaugural Hearing April 22, 2005

Expanded to include Veterans Court Expanded to include Veterans Court in 2009in 2009

Mental Health Courts: Mental Health Courts: DifferencesDifferences

Charges acceptedCharges accepted Monitoring practicesMonitoring practices Responses to violationsResponses to violations Modes of service deliveryModes of service delivery

““If you’ve seen one Mental Health Court, If you’ve seen one Mental Health Court, you’ve seen one Mental Health Court!” you’ve seen one Mental Health Court!” - Judge Chau - Judge Chau

10 Key Elements 10 Key Elements (aka Drug Court Components)(aka Drug Court Components)

1. Planning and Administration1. Planning and Administration

2. Target Population2. Target Population

3. Timely Participation Identification 3. Timely Participation Identification and Linkage to Servicesand Linkage to Services

4. Terms of Participation4. Terms of Participation

5. Informed Choice5. Informed Choice

10 Key Elements 10 Key Elements (aka Drug Court Components)(aka Drug Court Components)

6. Treatment Supports and Services6. Treatment Supports and Services

7. Confidentiality7. Confidentiality

8. Court Team8. Court Team

9. Monitoring Adherence to Court 9. Monitoring Adherence to Court RequirementsRequirements

10. Sustainability10. Sustainability

Thurston County MH/VC Thurston County MH/VC StatisticsStatistics

Spokane County Spokane County District/Municipal District/Municipal

Mental Health CourtMental Health Court

The Spokane Mental Health Therapeutic Court The Spokane Mental Health Therapeutic Court (MHTC) will reduce recidivism and increase public (MHTC) will reduce recidivism and increase public safety by meeting the needs of mentally ill offends safety by meeting the needs of mentally ill offends through cost-effective treatment, supervision and through cost-effective treatment, supervision and accountability. The MHTC will assist participants to accountability. The MHTC will assist participants to achieve long-term stability, become law-abiding achieve long-term stability, become law-abiding citizens and become productive community citizens and become productive community members.members.

BackgroundBackground Spokane County District and Municipal Spokane County District and Municipal

Court instituted a special court docket in Court instituted a special court docket in 1999 to deal exclusively with criminal 1999 to deal exclusively with criminal defendants who were in need of mental defendants who were in need of mental health evaluation and treatment.health evaluation and treatment.

The half day per week docket was funded The half day per week docket was funded by the County Commissioners. All City of by the County Commissioners. All City of Spokane cases were eligible as well. Spokane cases were eligible as well.

Several community and legal Several community and legal representatives provided input and representatives provided input and assistance in the planning of the original assistance in the planning of the original Mental Health Court Docket. Mental Health Court Docket.

Sales Tax InitiativeSales Tax Initiative The Spokane County Commissioners The Spokane County Commissioners

requested a vote of the public to requested a vote of the public to approve RCW 82.14.460 which would approve RCW 82.14.460 which would fund the Mental Health Court. The fund the Mental Health Court. The citizens voted in November 2005 for an citizens voted in November 2005 for an increase in 1/10 of one percent of the increase in 1/10 of one percent of the sales tax to fund new or expanded sales tax to fund new or expanded mental health treatment and mental health treatment and therapeutic courts. therapeutic courts.

In December of 2008, this initiative was In December of 2008, this initiative was extended by the BoCC until 2014. extended by the BoCC until 2014.

Mental Health CourtMental Health Court

A number of efforts came together to A number of efforts came together to bring about the expansion of the bring about the expansion of the District and Municipal “Mental District and Municipal “Mental Health Therapeutic Court”. Health Therapeutic Court”.

A professional team was created and A professional team was created and implemented several important implemented several important additions to the Mental Health Court additions to the Mental Health Court capabilities.capabilities.

ImplementationImplementation

The Mental Health Court Team consists of a The Mental Health Court Team consists of a Judge, Court Manager, Prosecuting Judge, Court Manager, Prosecuting Attorneys, Defense Attorneys, Mental Attorneys, Defense Attorneys, Mental Health Evaluator, Court Case Manager, Health Evaluator, Court Case Manager, Probation Officers and support staff. Probation Officers and support staff.

The team meets regularly with the jail The team meets regularly with the jail mental health staff, treatment providers, mental health staff, treatment providers, Eastern State Hospital Legal Offender Unit Eastern State Hospital Legal Offender Unit and other important partners, including and other important partners, including housing specialists and financial resource housing specialists and financial resource officers.officers.

Mental Health CourtMental Health Court The Mental Health Court represents an The Mental Health Court represents an

effort to increase effective cooperation effort to increase effective cooperation between the mental health treatment between the mental health treatment system and the criminal justice system. system and the criminal justice system.

The project has achieved the following The project has achieved the following outcomes for the mentally ill misdemeanant outcomes for the mentally ill misdemeanant population: population: improved access to mental health treatment improved access to mental health treatment

services services improved well-beingimproved well-being reduced recidivism reduced recidivism improved public safetyimproved public safety

13

CriteriaCriteria

Clinical Criteria: serious and Clinical Criteria: serious and persistent mental illnesses (Axis I)persistent mental illnesses (Axis I)

Legal Criteria: Misdemeanors or Legal Criteria: Misdemeanors or Gross MisdemeanorsGross Misdemeanors

ReferralsReferrals

Referral Sheet Referral Sheet Release of Information (ROI)Release of Information (ROI) Criminal HistoryCriminal History Exclude Convicted Sex Offenders, Exclude Convicted Sex Offenders,

Felonies, Conviction of Serious Felonies, Conviction of Serious Violent OffensesViolent Offenses

Accept Felony ReductionsAccept Felony Reductions

Spokane Mental Health Therapeutic Courts

MH Pre-Conviction MH Post-Conviction

Defendant has diagnosis of a major mental illness

Defendant incapable or not amenable to completing MHTC Phases (or MHTC not feasible)

Traditional negotiation towards resolution of case, Defendant pleas

Defendant is amenable to treatment and capable of completing the MHTC Phases

Defendant has diagnosis of a major mental illness *

Defendant appears for periodic Treatment Reviews

Defendant accesses mental health/substance abuse treatment and services through Probation

Defendant appears for Treatment Reviews & completes assignments/ requirements of each Phase

Defendant “Opts-In” to the MHTC and enters into an SOC (Stipulated Order of Continuance)

Defendant enters Phases of the MHTC & accesses services of the Therapeutic Team

Defendant may be returned to court for probation violations at a Show Cause hearing

Defendant successfully completes Probation requirements and case(s) close

Defendant graduates from the MHTC and case is dismissed

16

2011 Charges2011 Charges425 Defendants, 1087 Cases, 1303 Charges425 Defendants, 1087 Cases, 1303 Charges

18

Defendants Per Defendants Per District/MunicipalDistrict/Municipal

425 Total425 Total20112011

19

MHTC Services BreakdownMHTC Services Breakdown20112011

MHTC Pre-Adjudication

Individuals

MHTCPost-

Adjudication Individuals

Number of Individuals 70 355

Individuals already in MH Treatment Services 35 170

Individuals linked toTreatment Services 35 146

Individuals Graduated or Successfully Completed Probation 15 169

20

2005 to 2011 Jail 2005 to 2011 Jail DaysDays

DaysDays

Before MHCBefore MHC 47,53847,538

After MHCAfter MHC 24,67024,670

48% Decrease48% Decrease

845 Defendants

* Includes Felony Jail time

**More definitive recidivism rates will be given upon completion of the joint Drug Court/Mental Health Court Recidivism database.