Oregon creates first mental health court
Oregon
An Oregon county plans to operate the state’s first mental health court. Officials said the court would be based on a program in Seattle.
The Yamhill County Court will process purported mentally ill defendants accused of nonviolent, non drug-related misdemeanors and determine whether they should be assigned to a hospital or a jail.
Offenders must be nonviolent and stable enough to comply with program requirements and open to treatment and appropriate care.
The Yamhill court will have a single contact person to deal with questions, concerns or problems.
The local program is expected to cost about $150,000. About 75 percent of that funding will come from a federal grant.
The U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance provided the funding.
Copyright Washington Crime News Service Oct 17, 2003
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