Officials highlight mental health courts
HARRISBURG >> In 2019, according to statistics compiled by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, more than 60% of all discharged participants in mental health treatment courts statewide graduated successfully and among those graduates, there was a substantial increase in employment.
According to the statewide data, there were 427 discharges from the adult mental health treatment courts statewide in 2019 and 259, or 61%, of the participants graduated successfully. The remaining participants, according to the data, were unsuccessful, non-compliant or voluntarily withdrew from the programs.
Among the successful graduates, there was a 134% increase in employment, and 62% of the employed successful graduates were employed full-time, officials said.
During 2019, there were 367 admissions to mental health treatment courts statewide and 58% of the admissions were male and the average age at screening was 36, according to the AOPC data.
The Pennsylvania courts released the data highlighting the state’s mental health courts in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
The AOPC highlights the work of the courts with data and statistics obtained through the judiciary’s case management systems, interactive dashboards and other research.
The AOPC compiles the data but does not interpret it.
State court officials explained mental health courts link key justice system officials with leaders in the mental health system to divert offenders with severe mental illness into a judicially supervised program. These courts provide a team of court staff and mental health professionals that work together to screen and assess defendants, develop treatment plans and supervise offenders.
Mental health courts offer defendants the opportunity to avoid incarceration through the completion of a rigorous program that requires compliance with community supervision and mandated treatment, officials explained.
There were 22 mental health courts, sometimes called behavioral health courts, in the state during 2019, including in Montgomery, Berks, Chester and Delaware counties.
In Montgomery County, there were 55 total discharges from behavioral health court during 2019 and 42 of the discharges, or 76%, graduated successfully, according to the state data. Additionally, there were 44 admissions to the program in 2019 and 50% of the admissions were male and the average age at screening was 35. About 44% of the employed successful graduates were employed full-time, officials reported.
Dubbed Behavioral Health Court, Montgomery County’s treatment program was launched in 2009 and addresses the needs of people with serious mental health problems who are progressing through the court and prison systems. The goal of the court is to protect the public while improving the outcome and quality of life for people with mental illness under community corrections supervision.
Under the program, adult defendants with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major mood disorder or borderline personality disorder that contributed to their criminal behaviors are connected with community treatment services while receiving appropriate dispositions for their offenses.
The majority of offenders are accused of non-violent crimes. Participants must agree to follow a court approved treatment plan, routinely meet with probation and mental health officers and report to court weekly for progress sessions. The average length of participation in the program is 18-to24-months.
Participants who successfully complete the program can have certain felony charges reduced to misdemeanors or misdemeanor charges dismissed. Such determinations are made on a case-by-case assessment of a person’s prior record and the nature of the crime, officials said.
When offenders are released from the court or prison system, mental health providers are also available to assist them.
There have been more than a dozen graduations for those who have successfully completed the program since its inception.
According to the AOPC data, in Chester County, there were 16 total discharges from the county’s mental health treatment court during 2019 and eight of the discharges, or 50%, graduated successfully, according to the state data. Additionally, there were 20 admissions to the program in 2019 and 75% of the admissions were male and the average age was 32. Among the successful graduates there was a 100% increase in employment and 50% of the employed successful graduates were employed full time.
In Berks County, there were 25 total discharges from mental health treatment court during 2019 and 15 of the discharges, or 60%, graduated successfully, according to AOPC data. Additionally, there were 22 admissions to the program in 2019 and 41% of the admissions were male and the average age was 38. About 57% of the employed successful graduates were employed full-time.
In Delaware County, there were nine total discharges from mental health treatment court in 2019 and five of the discharges, or 56%, graduated successfully, according to state data. There were 16 admissions to the treatment court in 2019 and 50% of the admissions were male and the average age was 35. Among the successful graduates there was a 100% increase in employment and 100% of the employed successful graduates were employed full-time, according to the data.
State officials said that in addition to the 22 mental health treatment courts available statewide in 2019, two judicial districts, Clinton and Columbia/Montour, established such treatment courts in March.